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Vol.  XV,  No.  4 


May,  1922. 


BULLETIN 


OF  THE 


inia  Polytechnic 
Institute 


The  State  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College 


SEMI-CENTENNIAL 

A  Brief  History  of  the  College 


PUBLISHED  BI-MONTHLY  BY  THE 
VIRGINIA   POLYTECHNIC  INSTITUTE,  BLACKSBURG,  VA. 


"SERVICE       TO       THE       STATE       AND       NATION" 

A  BRIEF  HISTORY 

OF  THE 

Virginia  Agricultural  and  Mechanical 

College  and  Polytechnic 

Institute 


1872-1922 


WITH  THE  EXCEPTION  OF  THE  SUPPLEMENT,  THE  CONTENTS 
WERE  PREPARED  BY  PROFESSOR  E.  A.  SMYTH. 


The  Bulletin  of  the  Virginia  Polytechnic  Institute  is  published  bi-monthly.  En- 
tered as  second-class  matter  January  29,  1908,  at  the  post  office  at  Blacksburg,  Vir- 
ginia, under  the  Act  of  July  16,  1894. 


A   LIST   OF   THE   PRESIDENTS   OF    THE    COLLEGE 
SINCE    ITS    ESTABLISHMENT 


1872-1879— Dr.  C.  L.  C.  Minor 
1879-1880— Vacant 
1880-1881 — Dr.  John  L.  Buchanan 
1881-1886— Prof.  Thomas  N.  Conrad 
1886-1891— Gen.  L.  L.  Lomax 
1891-1907— Dr.  John  M.  McBryde 
1907-1913— Dr.  Paul  B.  Barringer 
1913-1919 — Dr.  Joseph  D.  Eggleston 
1919- — Dr.  Julian  A.  Burruss 


A    Brief   History  of  the  Virginia  Agricultural   and 
Mechanical  College  and  Polytechnic  Institute 


By  an  act  of  Congress  passed  in  1862  large  grants  of  public  land 
were  made  to  each  State,  the  proceeds  from  the  sale  of  which  were  to 
endow  state  colleges.  It  was  required  that  the  main  subjects  taught 
should  relate  directly  to  agriculture  and  the  mechanic  arts,  and  that 
military  instruction  should  be  given.  Scientific  subjects  and  the 
classics  were  however  not  excluded.  Such  colleges  were  therefore 
known  as  "Agricultural  and  Mechanical  Colleges." 

In  1872  the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia  met  the  requirements 
and  accepted  the  provisions  of  this  act  with  Virginia's  share  of  the 
land  grant.  The  Richmond  Dispatch  of  March  20,  1872,  contains  this 
paragraph,  namely, 

Governor  Walker  has  appointed  the 
following  to  compose  the  board  of  visitors 
to  the  Virginia  Agricultural  and  Mechan- 
ical College:  Harvey  Black,  of  Montgomery 
County;  John  T.  Cowan,  of  Pulaski;  Joseph 
Cloyd,  of  Pulaski:  W.  Alexander  Stewart, 
of  Smyth;  Joseph  R.  Anderson,  of  Rich- 
mond; William  T.  Sutherlin,  of  Danville; 
Robert  Beverley,  of  Fauquier;  and  D.  C. 
DeJarnette,  of  Caroline. 

There  was  some  contention  as  to  the  best  locality  for  this  new 
school,  and  various  sections  urged  their  claims.  At  this  time  the 
Preston  family  owned  large  estates  near  Blacksburg  in  Montgomery 
County,  and  Judge  Waller  R.  Staples,  of  Christiansburg,  a  close  friend 
of  the  Preston  family,  championed  Montgomery  County's  claims  for 
the  location  of  the  school  at  Blacksburg.  The  county  raised  the  sum 
of  $20,000  and  offered  also  a  brick  building  and  grounds  at  Blacks- 
burg, known  as  the  Preston  and  Olin  Institute,  as  a  nucleus  for  the 
college.  Success  crowned  these  efforts,  and  so  now  the  Virginia  Poly- 
technic Institute  and  Blacksburg  are  synonymous  to  many. 

The  large  farm  known  as  "Solitude,"  owned  by  Col.  Robert  Pres- 
ton, which  was  one  of  the  three  large  Preston  farms  adjoining  each 
other,  was  purchased  and  forms  now  a  large  part  of  the  grounds  of 
the  college.  The  mansion  still  known  as  "Solitude,"  now  the  residence 
of  Professor  Saunders,  is  said  to  be  an  enlargement  of  the  original 
hewn-log  house,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  houses  in  the  neighborhood. 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 


THE   EARLY   YEARS 

The  Virginia  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College  opened  in  1872, 
having-  as  its  only  building  the  Preston  and  Olin  Institute  structure. 
Old  alumni  will  remember  that  this  building,  converted  into  three 
stories,  later  used  as  a  dormitory,  then  again  restored  to  two  stories 
and  used  as  the  shops  building,  afterwards  forming  the  nucleus  of  the 
quadrangle  shops  building,  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1913.  This  build- 
ing was  on  the  hill,  just  within  the  present  alumni  gateway. 

The  first  president  was  Dr.  C.  L.  C.  Minor,  and  his  faculty  con- 
sisted of  Gray  Carroll,  professor  of  mathematics;  Dr.  Charles  Martin, 
professor  of  English;  and  General  James  H.  Lane,  of  North  Carolina, 
who  had  fought  at  Manassas,  was  commandant  and  professor  of  math- 
ematics. The  students  roomed  and  boarded  where  they  could  in  town, 
as  there  was  no  dormitory  and  no  mess;  and  this  occasioned  the  con- 
struction of  the  long,  one-storied  building  of  many  rooms  on  the  cross 
street  west  of  the  present  Presbyterian  church,  now  known  as  "Ly- 
brook  Row,"  where  many  of  the  cadets  roomed.  In  those  days  the 
building  was  known  by  a  less  euphonious  name,  doubtless  in  keeping 
with  the  actions  of  the  inmates.  These  students  took  their  meals  in 
the  building  now  owned  by  Dr.  Roop,  then  known  as  "Luster's  Hotel." 

In  1873  Mr.  C.  W.  C.  Davis  was  made  professor  of  mechanics,  and 
Dr.  M.  G.  Elzy  professor  of  chemistry  and  agriculture.  Until  Sep- 
tember, 1882,  the  sessions  extended  through  the  summer,  and  there 
was  a  winter  vacation.  In  1874  Professor  Davis  was  replaced  by  Mr. 
Jackson,  who  soon  resigned,  being  succeeded  by  General  Boggs.  In 
the  same  year  the  buildings  known  as  the  First  and  Second  Academic 
Buildings  were  begun;  a  house  was  built  for  the  president,  which  is 
now  the  main  part  of  the  infirmary;  and  three  professors'  houses  were 
added.  One  of  these  latter,  remodeled  since  partial  destruction  by  fire, 
is  now  the  administration  building;  one,  the  present  commandant's 
house;  and  the  third,  later  used  as  a  lecture  hall  for  the  agricultural 
department  in  the  time  of  Professor  Nourse,  was  removed  to  give 
room  for  the  present  library,  built  originally  for  the  college  audito- 
rium, and  the  material  of  this  house  was  used  in  the  construction  of 
the  house  now  occupied  by  Professor  Burkhart.  These  six  buildings 
were  constructed  with  money  appropriated  by  the  Legislature  for  the 
purpose.  The  whole  amount  was  $60,000,  and  about  607c  went  into 
these  buildings. 

Shortly  after  organization,  the  faculty  was  divided  into  two 
factions  as  to  policy,  discipline,  and  management  of  the  school.  This 
resulted  in  a  personal  difficulty  between  the  president  and  the  com- 
mandant. Recognizing  that  under  such  conditions  the  college  could 
not  succeed,  the  board  of  visitors  removed  President  Minor  and  Pro- 
fessor Martin  in  November,  1879,  and  elected  Thomas  N.  Conrad  as 
professor  of  English.     On  December  10,  1879,  Dr.  John  L.  Buchanan 


CATALOGUE 


OF  THE 


OFFICERS  AND  STUDENTS 


OF  THE 


Virginia  Agricultural  &  Mechanical  College. 


FIRST  SESSION. 


1872-'7S. 


CLEMMITT  &  JONES, 

STEAM  BOOK   AND  JOB  PRINTERS. 

1873. 


Reproduction  of  title-page  of  first  catalogue,   the  size  of  which   was   4%   x  7   inches. 


BOARD  of  VISITORS. 


HARVEY  BLACK,  M.  D. 


BlCTOE. 


His  Excellency,  O.  C.  WALKER,  Governor  op  Virginia,  Ex  officio. 
Hon.  J.  C.  TAYLOR,  Attorney  General,  Ex  officio. 
Rev.  W.  H.  RUFFNER.  D.  D.,  Sup't  of  Public  Instruction,  Ex  officio. 
Gen.  W.  H.  F.  LEE,  President  State  Agricultural  Society,  Ex  officio. 


Gen.  J.  R.  ANDERSON,  Richmond. 
Hon.  JOHN  GOODE,  Jr,  Norfolk. 
Col.  JOHN  E.  PENN,  Patrick. 


Appointed  by  the 
Governor  for  three  years. 


ROBERT  BEVERLEY,  Esq.,  Fauquier. 
W.  A.  STUART,  Esq.,  Smythe, 
E.  M.  TIDBALL,  Esq.,  Frederick. 


Appointed  by  the 
Governor  for  two  years. 


HARVEY  BLACK,  M.  D.,  Montgomery. 
Hon.  D.  C.  DeJARNETTE,  Caroline. 
Maj.  W.  T.  SUTHERLIN,  Pittsylvania. 


Appointod  by  the 
Governor  for  one  year. 


V.  E.  SHEPHERD, 


Secretary. 


Reproduced  from  the  first  catalogue,   1872-73. 


8  Virginia   Polytechnic   Institute 

was  elected  president.  The  Legislature  of  1879-80  removed  the  entire 
board  of  visitors,  and  the  Governor  made  his  new  appointments  so  late 
that  they  were  not  confirmed.  They  nevertheless  acted,  and  continued 
in  office  until  1881-82.  This  board  decided  on  a  complete  reorganiza- 
tion of  the  college,  and  in  1880  declared  all  chairs  and  offices  of  the 
college  vacant. 

Dr.  Buchanan  thus  served  for  only  six  months,  for  at  the  next 
meeting  in  August  an  entire  new  faculty  was  elected.  General  Scott 
Shipp,  the  late  distinguished  superintendent  of  the  Virginia  Military 
Institute,  was  made  president,  with  a  faculty  composed  as  follows: 
Dr.  M.  P.  Scott,  chemistry  and  agriculture;  J.  E.  Christian,  mathe- 
matics and  physics;  Colonel  W.  W.  Blackford,  mechanics.  Later  Colo- 
nel Blackford  was  appointed  superintendent  of  buildings  and  grounds, 
and  to  him  we  owe  the  beginning  of  our  lovely  campus,  so  much  ad- 
mired by  visitors.  Mr.  Hart  was  elected  professor  of  English.  General 
Lane  resigned  and  the  position  of  commandant  was  not  filled  until 
1885.  But  very  little  stress  was  laid  on  the  military  feature,  the  board 
of  visitors  having  required  the  faculty  to  reduce  it  to  the  minimum 
within  the  terms  of  the  law. 

General  (then  Colonel)  Scott  Shipp  accepted  the  presidency,  but 
resigned  within  a  day  of  his  arrival  on  the  grounds,  and  Mr.  Hart 
acted  in  that  capacity  during  the  session  of  1880-81.  In  June,  1881, 
Dr.  John  L.  Buchanan  was  again  elected  president.  If  conditions  had 
been  better,  Dr.  Buchanan  would  doubtless  have  exerted  a  marked  in- 
fluence for  good  on  the  future  of  the  college,  for  he  was  already  well 
known  as  an  educator  and  he  was  a  gentleman  of  comprehensive  mind 
and  liberal  culture.  Dr.  Buchanan  has  recently  died,  in  January,  1922, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  93  years,  having  in  his  time  filled  such  import- 
ant positions  as  president  of  Emory  and  Henry  College,  Randolph-Ma- 
con College,  Martha  Washington  College,  Vanderbilt  University,  and 
the  University  of  Arkansas,  besides  the  Virginia  Agricultural  and 
Mechanical  College. 

The  board  which  elected  Dr.  Buchanan  to  the  presidency  at 
Blacksburg,  and  which  doubtless  would  have  supported  him,  was 
removed  by  the  Legislature  of  1881-82.  Governor  Cameron,  elected 
by  the  Coalition-Readjuster  party,  appointed  an  entirely  new  board, 
which  unfortunately  deemed  it  necessary  to  reorganize  the  college. 
In  January,  1882,  this  board  declared  all  chairs  and  offices  vacant, 
except  that  of  treasurer.  Captain  Thomas  N.  Conrad  was  made  pres- 
ident, and  in  February  the  board  met  and  re-elected  Professors  Scott 
and  Christian,  elected  Mr.  J.  X.  Morton  professor  of  Latin  and  pri- 
mary English,  and  Mr.  Grimm  professor  of  English.  Professor 
Grimm,  however,  did  not  serve  and  his  place  was  taken  by  Professor 
Morton.  Later,  Mr.  V.  E.  Shepard  was  selected  to  instruct  in  modern 
languages,  and  was  subsequently  given  a  professorship.  Colonel  Wil- 
liam Ballard  Preston  was  requested  to  give  lectures  on  agriculture 
and  to  instruct  in  military  science  and  tactics. 

In  1884,  upon  request  of  the  board  for  the  detail  of  an  army  offi- 
cer, Lieutenant  John  C.  Gresham,  of  the  7th  U.  S.  Cavalry,  was  chosen 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 


!< 


as  commandant  of  cadets  and  professor  of  military  science  and  tactics. 
He  reported  for  duty  in  July,  1885.  Preferring;  work  in  the  field,  how- 
ever, he  resigned  in  L887,  after  proving  himself  to  both  students  and 
faculty  an  efficient  and  popular  officer. 

Upon  the  election  of  Governor  Fitzhugh  Lee,  another  board  of 
visitors  was  appointed,  which  at  once  proceeded  to  reorganize  the  col- 
lege. General  L.  L.  Lomax,  a  distinguished  officer  of  the  Confederacy, 
was  elected  president,  and  Professors  Scott,  Christian,  Morton,  and 
Preston  were  re-elected.  Mr.  James  H.  Fitts,  a  former  ensign  of  the 
Navy  and  an  Annapolis  graduate,  was  elected  professor  of  mechanics 
and  manager  of  the  shops,  and  Mr.  Fielding  P.   Miles,  professor  of 


A  demonstration  by   the  students  during   the  days   of   "Mahonism."' 

This  building  was  then  used  as  a  dormitory  and  afterwards  as  shops. 

Dr.  T.  N.  Conrad  was  then  president. 


chemistry.  These  gentlemen  assumed  charge  of  their  departments  in 
July,  1885.  Lieutenant  John  T.  Knight,  of  the  3rd  U.  S.  Cavalry,  a 
native  of  Virginia,  was  detailed  as  commandant  of  cadets  and  reported 
for  duty  in  August,  1887,  serving  until  1890. 

An  agricultural  experiment  station  having  been  established  in 
connection  with  the  college  in  1888,  Colonel  Ballard  Preston  was 
elected  director  of  the  station  and  professor  of  agriculture.  In  the 
same  year,  from  money  appropriated  by  the  Legislature,  a  new  brick 
barrack  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $20,000.  The  bricks 
for  the  building  were  made  locally  and  a  handsome  grove  that  stood 
west  of  the  experiment  plats,  beyond  the  Price's  Forks  road  was  sacri- 
ficed for  burning  the  bricks.  This  building  was  steam-heated  and 
equipped  with  furniture  made  at  the  college  shops,  which  were  then  in 
the  small  wooden  building  east  of  the  present  mess-hall.  This  brick 
barrack  was  known  as  the  "New  Barracks,"  now  referred  to  as  "The 
Old  Barracks"  or  "Barrack  No.  1."     Up  to  the  building  of  this  the 


10  Virginia   Polytechnic    Institute 

students  were  quartered  in  the  Preston-Olin  building,  later  remodeled 
by  General  Lomax  for  a  machine  shop. 

In  June,  1889,  the  board  established  the  chair  of  French  and  Ger- 
man, and  Mr.  T.  P.  Campbell  was  elected  thereto,  reporting  for  duty 
in  September  of  that  year.  Professor  Campbell  is  still  in  charge  of 
this  department,  being  at  present,  in  point  of  service,  the  oldest  mem- 
ber of  the  faculty. 

The  year  1890  saw  many  changes.  Professor  Miles,  of  the  chair 
of  chemistry,  died;  Colonel  Preston  resigned  as  director  of  the  experi- 
ment station  and  professor  of  agriculture;  Mr.  R.  C.  Price,  of  the 
Miller  School,  was  elected  to  the  chair  of  chemistry;  Mr.  A.  F.  Gully 
to  that  of  agriculture,  and  Mr.  W.  E.  Anderson  as  superintendent  of 
shops.  Mr.  Gully  declining  his  election,  Professor  D.  0.  Nourse,  so 
kindly  remembered  by  all  who  knew  him,  was  elected  in  his  stead. 
Lieutenant  John  A.  Harmon,  of  the  7th  U.  S.  Cavalry,  was  detailed 
as  commandant  of  cadets.  Those  who  were  here  during  Colonel  Har- 
mon's time  of  service  will  remember  him  with  love  and  admiration 
for  his  sterling  qualities  as  a  man  and  an  officer.  The  first  trips  taken 
by  the  corps  as  a  military  body  were  under  his  charge,  and  at  the 
naval  rendezvous  at  Norfolk,  and  later,  at  the  exercises  of  the  unveil- 
ing of  the  monument  to  the  soldiers  and  sailors,  in  Richmond  in  1894, 
it  was  largely  due  to  Colonel  Harmon  that  the  corps  made  the  excel- 
lent reputation  that  their  later  trips  have  continually  increased.  In 
later  life,  Colonel  Harmon  was  connected  with  the  establishment  of 
the  Quito  and  Guayaquil  Railroad  in  Equador,  where  he  died. 

Dr.  W.  B.  Conway  resigned  as  college  surgeon  in  June,  1890,  and 
Drs.  Kent  Black  and  W.  F.  Henderson,  both  former  students,  were 
appointed,  officiating  on  alternate  weeks. 

In  the  spring  of  1891  Professor  Anderson  was  made  professor  of 
electricity  and  physics  in  addition  to  his  superintendency  of  the  shops, 
but  in  1893  he  resigned  both  positions. 

From  the  founding  of  the  college  in  1872  up  to  1891,  we  note  the 
following  material  developments: 

The  Virginia  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College  began  in  1872 
with  nothing  but  the  inadequate  Preston-Olin  building  and  limited 
grounds;  with  a  faculty  of  three  or  four  members;  with  constant 
changes  of  administration,  practically  no  support  from  the  State  and 
discouraging  political  interference;  yet  by  1891  there  had  been  pro- 
vided a  barrack  building  for  housing  the  students;  two  academic 
buildings  of  brick,  with  a  few  lecture  rooms  and  a  poorly  equipped 
laboratory  for  chemistry,  and  a  few  offices;  a  building  for  the  experi- 
ment station,  used  also  for  a  horticultural  building,  with  a  small 
greenhouse  attached;  four  houses  for  professors,  with  the  old  "Soli- 
tude" mansion  refitted;  a  machine  shop  by  the  conversion  of  the  old 
Preston-Olin  building;  a  large  frame  structure  for  assemblies;  and  a 
smaller  frame  house  used  as  a  shop.  The  planning  and  laying  out  of 
the  campus  had  been  started,  and  an  army  officer  had  been  secured  as 
commandant  and  military  instructor. 


\  [RGINLA    Polytechnic    Institute  11 


THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  McBRYDE 

The  spring  of  1891  saw  another  reorganization  of  the  college, 
ushered  in  by  the  resignation  of  General  Lomax  as  president.  The 
board  also  declared  vacant  the  chairs  of  English,  biology,  bookkeeping, 
and  commercial  law. 

On  May  7,  1891,  the  board  unanimously  elected  as  president  and 
director  of  the  experiment  station,  Dr.  John  M.  McBryde,  then  presi- 
dent of  the  University  of  South  Carolina,  giving-  him  a  very  free  hand 
in  selecting  his  own  associates  and  formulating  his  own  policies.  Dur- 
ing the  interim,  Professor  J.  E.  Christian  had  acted  as  president  and 
he  was  re-elected  to  the  chair  of  mathematics. 

In  accordance  with  Dr.  McBryde's  carefully  considered  plan  of 
reorganization,  the  following  departments  were  created:  agricultural 
chemistry,  President  McBryde;  mathematics  and  civil  engineering, 
Professor  Christian,  Assistant  Professor  Harmon,  Instructor  Hurt; 
mechanical  engineering,  Professor  Fitts;  horticulture,  entomology, 
and  mycology,  Professor  Alwood;  English,  history  and  political 
economy,  Dr.  Sheib;  biology,  Professor  Smyth;  modern  languages, 
Adjunct  Professor  Campbell  ;  electrical  engineering  and  physics,  Ad- 
junct Professor  Anderson;  general  chemistry,  geology  and  mineralogy, 
Adjunct  Professor  R.  C.  Price;  analytical  chemistry,  Adjunct  Pro- 
fessor Davidson;  agriculture,  Adjunct  Professor  Nourse,  veterinary 
science,  Adjunct  Professor  Niles;  woodwork,  Instructor  Bray;  iron 
work,  Instructor  W.  N.  Cunningham;  bookkeeping,  Mr.  W.  W.  Hurt. 
Mr.  Hurt  was  also  appointed  secretary  of  the  faculty,  Mr.  A.  W. 
Drinkard  ('93),  librarian,  and  Mr.  G.  W.  Fleet,  marshal. 

Session  of  1891-92.  With  the  foregoing  faculty,  the  session  of 
1891-92  opened.  Seven  courses  of  study  were  offered,  of  4  years  each, 
leading  to  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Science,  namely,  agriculture; 
horticulture;  applied  chemistry;  general  science;  civil,  mechanical,  and 
electrical  engineering;  and  two  shorter  courses  in  practical  mechanics 
and  practical  agriculture,  in  which  certificates  only  were  given.  Post- 
graduate courses  were  offered  leading  to  the  degrees  of  M.S.,  C.E., 
M.E.,  and  E.E. 

The  mess  and  kitchen  for  some  time  past  and  into  the  session  of 
1891-92  had  been  in  the  basement  of  Academic  Building  No.  1.  The 
students,  seated  on  stools,  ate  at  long,  bare  tables.  Napkins  were 
unknown  luxuries.  Some  of  the  bachelor  professors,  and  one  or  two 
married  professors  with  their  wives,  had  a  separate  table  in  a  corner 
of  the  same  room,  which  occupied  the  whole  of  the  western  part  of  the 
basement.  Whether  they  received  better  fare  or  not,  many  longing 
glances  were  cast  by  student  eyes  at  this  "table  of  privilege."  To- 
ward the  end  of  this  session  the  mess  was  moved  to  the  old  two-story 
wooden  building  still  standing  by  the  "pavilion"  to  the  east  of  the 
northeast  entrance  to  the  old  campus.     As  already  stated,  the  original 


12 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 


brick  building  of  the  Preston-Olin  Institute  had  been  converted  into 
the  machine  shop.  The  only  barrack  then  was  No.  1,  with  the  tower, 
and  several  of  the  unmarried  professors  had  rooms  therein. 

The  class  of  1892  was  the  first  to  adopt  a  senior  uniform  of  dark 
blue  trousers  to  match  the  elaborately  braided  senior  blouse  of  blue, 
and  the  under-classes  wore  the  uniform  of  dark  blue  blouse  and  gray 
trousers.  The  use  of  the  gray  coatee  was  discontinued  by  the  authori- 
ties. 


From  a  wood  cut  made  from  a  drawing   or   photograph   taken  from 
the  top  of  the  shops  about  1890-91.     Compare  this  with  the  photo- 
graph made  from  the  same  place  in  1897. 

The  Athletic  Association  was  organized  in  September,  1891,  with 
J.  A.  Massie  as  president,  and  after  much  discussion  black  and  cadet- 
gray  were  adopted  as  the  college  colors,  and  the  college  yell  was  finally 
chosen  to  be : 

"Rip  Rah  Ree!     Va.,  Va.,  Vee! 
Virginia,  Virginia! 
A.  M.  C!" 


As  the  title  of  the  college  was  at  that  time  merely  "The  Virginia 
Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College,  "Virginia  A.M.C."  was  meant  to 
represent  that  title.  Some  attempt  was  made  to  arouse  an  interest  in 
football.  Messrs.  Massie,  Stull,  Pratt,  Friend,  and  Lovenstein,  and 
Professor  Smyth,  tried  to  arouse  intelligent  enthusiasm  in  the  modern 
game.  It  was  not,  however,  until  the  fall  of  1892  that  any  team  was 
chosen  to  represent  the  college,  at  which  time,  Professor  Anderson  also 
lent  his  influence  and  person  to  the  team.  St.  Alban's  School,  then  a 
flourishing  preparatory  school  under  Colonel  Miles,  at  Radford,  was 
the  only  rival  we  attempted  to  win  laurels  from,  and  baseball  was 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute  13 

also  rather  inchoate.  Tenuis  received  some  attention,  and  a  tennis 
association  was  formed.  The  history  of  athletics  is  too  voluminous 
and  important  to  be  attempted  here,  and  those  interested  are  referred 
to  "The  Bugle"  of  1903  for  the  facts  up  to  the  year  of  that  volume. 

During:  this  session  the  corps  decided  to  revive  publication  of 
"The  Cray  Jacket,"  dormant  since  1889,  and  Mr.  A.  W.  Drinkard  was 
the  first  editor  of  this  revival.  The  first  trip  of  the  corps  as  a  military 
organization  was  taken  on  June  17,  1892.  The  corps,  consisting-  of  two 
companies  of  30  men  each,  attended  the  decennial  celebration  of  Roa- 
noke City. 


Prof.    Alwood's    home   in    1891-92,   now   the   Administration    Building. 
To  the  right,  where  "faculty  row"  is  now  located  was  then  a  wheat 

field. 

The  Effinger  house,  adjoining  the  north  corner  of  the  campus, 
near  where  now  stands  the  Science  Hall,  was  purchased  and  used  as 
an  infirmary.  Later,  this  house  was  torn  down  and  the  material  used 
in  part  to  build  the  house  now  occupied  by  Professor  C.  Lee.  Painter's 
spring,  near  Colonel  Palmer's  property,  to  the  northeast  of  the  town, 
was  purchased  and  the  water  conducted  by  gravity  to  a  reservoir  by 
the  shops,  whence  it  was  pumped  to  a  tank  in  the  tower  of  barrack  No. 
1.  Up  to  this  date,  water  had  been  pumped  by  ram  from  the  stream 
by  the  quarry.  The  land  where  "faculty  row"  now  stands,  down  to 
the  old  orchard  by  the  ice-pond,  was  a  wheat  field,  later  used  as  a 
brick-yard. 

The  catalogue  for  1891-92  gives  a  total  of  116  students,  though 
there  were  only  about  80  in  attendance  at  Commencement.  For  these 
Commencement  exercises  a  large  tent  was  secured,  as  the  college  had 
no  suitable  hall.  The  tent  was  pitched  on  the  level  ground,  now  grown 
up  in  trees,  southeast  of  the  present  infirmary,  and  a  rain  storm  dur- 


14  Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 

ing  the  Sunday  exercises  necessitated  a  liberal  use  of  umbrellas  among 
the  audience. 

Among  new  appointments  were  the  following:  Mr.  T.  L.  Watson, 
now  professor  of  geology  at  the  University  of  Virginia,  as  instructor 
in  geology,  and  Mr.  C.  G.  Porcher  in  forge  work. 

Session  of  1892-93.  Among  matters  of  interest  during  the  first 
of  this  session  was  the  organization  of  a  cadet  band  of  sixteen  brass 
pieces  under  the  leadership  of  Cadet  Clifford  Anderson.  Like  many 
young  organizations  it  was  very  crude,  the  relative  merits  of  the  dif- 
ferent performers  being  gauged  by  the  amount  of  wind  power  they 
could  put  into  a  blast.  No  one  now  hearing  our  excellent  band  would 
realize  what  its  early  character  was  from  a  musical  standpoint.  The 
band  now  attracts  men  who  are  already  performers;  then,  with 
hardly  an  exception,  no  man  could  read  music  or  knew  even  how  to 
blow  his  horn.  As  already  mentioned,  the  first  football  team  in  the 
history  of  the  college  was  put  on  the  field  this  autumn,  with  Professor 
Anderson  as  captain. 

The  mess  was  moved  to  the  large  wooden  building  known  as  the 
"pavilion,"  still  standing  northeast  of  the  present  mess-hall,  and  was 
under  the  charge  of  Mrs.  Crockett.  A  wooden  building  of  nine  rooms 
was  built  as  a  veterinary  infirmary,  near  the  horticultural  building — 
now  the  offices  of  the  extension  division.  This  wooden  building  was 
later  moved  to  the  southeast  of  the  stone  agricultural  building  where 
it  still  stands.  A  one-story  brick  building  was  erected  for  forge  and 
foundry  work,  and  this  still  stands  by  the  site  of  the  old  shops,  east 
of  the  mess-hall.  Two  three-inch  rifles  were  furnished  to  the  college 
by  the  War  Department,  forming  the  nucleus  of  the  subsequently 
organized  battery. 

Among  student  activities  was  the  formation  of  the  Thespian  Club, 
which  enlivened  student  life  by  giving  rather  creditable  minstrel 
shows.  The  boys  purchased  wigs,  and  made  various  "properties." 
This  organization  continued  in  existence  until  about  1899,  giving  in 
the  course  of  its  life  some  very  good  entertainments  of  a  much  more 
ambitious  character  than  mere  minstrel  shows.  An  effort  was  made 
to  start  also  an  orchestra.  This  was  composed  largely  of  decidedly 
amateur  performers  who  played  almost  entirely  by  ear.  It  was  called 
"The  Lost  Chord  Band"  and  consisted  of  guitars,  cornet,  violin  and 
clarinet.     It  did  not  live  very  long. 

The  corps  of  cadets,  consisting  of  three  companies  and  the  band, 
attended  the  naval  rendezvous  at  Norfolk  in  April,  1893.  It  was  here 
that  Captain  Finch's  picked  company  won  the  prize  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars  in  a  competitive  drill  against  two  competitors. 
The  V.  M.  I.  corps  was  scheduled  to  appear  in  the  contest  but  it  did 
not  come  on  the  field.  By  vote  of  the  corps,  this  money  was  used  by 
Colonel  Harmon  to  purchase  two  3-inch  rifles,  which,  with  the  two 
already  here,  were  later  used  by  the  battery.  These  two  cannon  now 
stand,  and  for  some  time  past  have  stood,  on  guard  in  front  of  the 
esplanade  of  Barrack  No.  1.  A  powder  magazine  was  built  below  the 
hill,   in   front   of   Academic    Building   No.    1,   to   store  the   increased 


VIRGINIA    Polytechnic    Institute  15 

amount  of  ammunition  furnished  by  the  War  Department.  This 
brick  vault,  now  removed,  used  to  be  pointed  out  to  credulous  visitors 
as  the  mortuary  vault  of  our  dead  presidents. 

Commencement  exercises  were  held  in  the  old  pavilion. 

The  following  faculty  changes  were  made:  promotions,  adjunct 
professor  to  professor,  Messrs.  Campbell,  Price,  Nourse,  Davidson, 
and  Niles;  Colonel  Harmon  was  made  acting*  professor  of  mathemat- 
ics; Professor  Anderson,  Mr.  Cunningham,  and  Mr.  Bray  resigned, 
ami  Messrs.  P.  C.  Hubbard  and  J.  R.  Parrott  (a  former  student),  both 
of  Lynchburg,  were  appointed  instructors  in  machine  shop  and  wood 
shop  respectively;  Mr.  J.  P.  Harvey,  of  Blacksburg,  was  given  charge 
of  the  band. 

The  college  sustained  a  loss  through  the  death  of  Professor  James 
Fitts,  of  the  department  of  mechanical  engineering,  who  was  killed 
near  Welch,  West  Virginia,  in  a  railroad  accident,  while  on  his  way 
to  the  Chicago  exposition. 

In  August,  1893,  Professor  S.  R.  Pritchard  was  appointed  to  the 
chair  of  electrical  engineering  and  physics;  and  in  September  of  the 
same  year  Mr.  L.  S.  Randolph,  of  Baltimore,  was  appointed  to  the 
chair  of  mechanical  engineering. 

A  creamery  and  cheese  factory  was  built  out  of  the  proceeds  of 
farm  crops,  in  the  low  ground  between  Professor  Pritchard's  present 
home  and  the  stone  agricultural  building.  This  low  ground,  up  to  and 
including  the  present  athletic  field,  was  used  by  the  horticultural  de- 
partment as  vegetable  gardens.  The  products  from  these  gardens 
were  sold  to  the  professors,  but  later  such  products  were  used  in  the 
cannery  (built  near  the  creamery)  and  sold  for  home  consumption. 

The  catalogue  for  1892-93  gives  an  attendance  of  177  students. 

Session  of  1893-94.  The  possession  of  four  cannon  made  possible 
the  formation  of  a  battery,  at  the  opening  of  this  session,  with  cadet 
Captain  A.  Hull  Apperson  in  charge.  The  old  wooden  shops  building 
(now  a  store  house)  was  equipped  as  a  steam  laundry  under  the 
charge  of  Mr.  D.  O.  Matthews. 

On  October  18  the  college  was  again  called  upon  to  sustain  a  loss 
in  the  faculty  through  the  death  of  Professor  J.  E.  Christian,  who  had 
been  a  member  of  the  faculty  since  1880. 

The  third  trip  of  the  corps  as  a  military  body  occurred  on  May 
-".i.  The  occasion  was  the  unveiling,  in  Richmond,  of  the  monument  to 
the  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  Confederacy.  Three  companies  of  in- 
fantry, and  the  band,  composed  the  battalion,  which  remained  in  Rich- 
mond until  June  2,  encamped  near  the  Lee  monument.  The  cadets 
were  an  escort  of  honor  to  Governor  O'Ferrall.  On  the  return  from 
the  ceremonies  a  heavy  downpour  of  rain  dampened  the  ardor  and 
uniforms  of  the  boys;  but  the  band,  though  drenched  to  the  skin, 
struck  up  "the  Washington  Post"  march  and  saved  the  day.  Cadets 
of  that  day  will  remember  the  episode  of  the  muddy  white  trousers. 

In  June,  Dr.  S.  M.  Barton  was  appointed  adjunct  professor  of 
mathematics  and  civil  engineering. 

Attendance  for  the  session,  236. 


16 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 


During  the  summer,  the  land  to  the  right  of  the  road  leading  to 
the  horticultural  and  experiment  station  building  (now  the  extension 
building)  was  leveled,  and  a  boulevard  was  constructed  from  the  old 
chestnut  tree  (still  standing  by  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building)  to  the  horti- 
cultural building.  Along  this  boulevard  "faculty  row"  was  later 
gradually  built. 

Session  of  1894-95.  A  new  dormitory  (No.  2),  a  brick  building 
of  fifty-five  rooms,  was  completed  by  October.  A  fourth  infantry 
company  was  organized.  This  fall  signalized  our  first  entry  into  state 
athletics,  and  our  first  game  with  V.  M.  I.,  played  in  Staunton  on  No- 
vember 28,  result  V.  M.  I.,  10;  V.  A.  M.  C,  6. 


|  .      ^ 

• 

BSK?  ^^1 

st? 

The  first  foot-ball  team,   1892,  Prof.   Anderson    (with   ball   at   right. 

end),  captain. 


Up  to  this  date  there  had  been  practically  no  athletic  field,  the 
games  at  home  being  played  back  cf  Barrack  No.  1  or  down  about 
where  the  sewage  disposal  plant  now  is.  President  McBryde  assigned 
to  the  athletic  association  for  their  use,  and  for  a  drill  field,  a  portion 
of  the  horticultural  gardens  next  to  the  grounds  of  Professor  Camp- 
bell's house,  later  removed.  This  field  was  not  leveled  then,  but  had  a 
gradual  fall  toward  the  southwest.  However,  it  seemed  level  com- 
pared with  what  had  been  our  only  grounds.  When,  in  later  years, 
the  field  was  leveled  and  put  in  its  present  good  shape,  and  the  hill 
toward  Professor  Campbell's  house,  where  now  stands  the  field  house, 
cut  down  as  it  now  is,  it  was  a  surprise  to  even  those  who  had  played 
and  drilled  there  to  see  what  a  fall  there  really  was  to  the  land. 

The  Y.  M.  C.  A.  issued  its  first  handbook,  though  then  it  had  no 
building. 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 


17 


During*  the  session,  six  professors'  houses,  of  brick,  were  erected 
on  "faculty  row."  The  nearest  of  these  to  the  barracks,  built  for  Pro- 
fessor R.  C.  Price  and  later  occupied  by  Professor  Vawter,  was  torn 
down  when  the  present  stone  shops  were  built. 

On  December  7,  Judge  Gardner  died.  He  had  been  the  treasurer 
for  a  long  time,  and  his  loss  was  deeply  felt.  Mr.  C.  I.  Wade,  of 
Christiansburg,  was  appointed  in  his  place. 

The  equipment  of  the  battery  was,  largely  through  the  efforts  of 
the  corps,  further  increased  by  the  purchase  of  forty  sabres. 

This  was  the  winter  of  the  big  snow,  when  town  and  college  alike 
suffered  a  coal  famine.  There  were  no  stone  roads  then,  and  no  rail- 
road from  Christiansburg,  all  communication  being  by  horse  power; 


The  first  band,  1892-93,  Mr.  J.  P.  Harvey   (in  center  front),  leader. 


the  auto  was  a  thing  of  the  future.  The  whole  community  was  out  of 
touch  with  the  world  for  a  few  days,  as  no  vehicle  could  get  to  or 
from  Christiansburg,  and  the  deep  cuts  in  the  roads  to  the  coal  mines 
were  drifted  high  with  snow.  Volunteers  were  called  for,  and  students 
and  townsmen  turned  out  in  a  body  and  cleared  a  road  to  Brush  Moun- 
tain and  the  coal  mines  through  deep  drifts,  in  places  over  ten  feet  in 
depth. 

The  new  mess  and  Commencement  hall,  a  large  two-story  brick 
building,  was  completed  in  the  spring.  The  large  addition  to  the 
north,  containing  now  the  private  mess  and  the  bakery,  was,  however, 
a  later  addition.     The  hall  was  finished  in  time  for  Commencement. 

Adjunct  Professor  Pritchard  was  promoted  to  a  full  professor- 
ship, and  Assistant  W.  W.  Hurt  to  an  assistant  professorship;  Mr.  W. 
D.  Saunders  was  made  superintendent  of  the  creamery  and  assistant 


18  Virginia    Polytechnic   Institute 

professor  of  dairy  husbandry;  Mr.  W.  G.  Conner  ('92),  instructor  in 
wood-work;  Mr.  J.  M.  Johnson,  of  the  Miller  School,  instructor  in 
forge  and  foundry;  Mr.  A.  T.  Eskridge  ('94),  instructor  in  geology; 
Mr.  W.  H.  Rasche,  of  the  Miller  School,  assistant  in  drawing;  and  Mr. 
L.  W.  Jerrell   ('94),  assistant  in  wood-work. 

The  first  issue  of  "The  Bugle,"  published  thereafter  annually  by 
the  senior  class,  appeared  at  this  Commencement.  It  was  a  very 
modest  volume  compared  with  the  sumptuous  editions  of  later  years, 
but  the  editors  considered  it  as  quite  an  achievement.  The  cost  to  the 
purchaser  was  only  $1.50. 

Attendance  this  session,  325. 

In  the  summer  Mr.  T.  L.  Watson  resigned  the  instructorship  in 
geology,  and  Dr.  S.  M.  Barton  the  chair  of  mathematics  and  civil 
engineering.  This  latter  chair  was  then  divided,  Colonel  William 
Patton,  of  Lexington,  was  elected  to  the  chair  of  civil  engineering,  and 
the  commandant,  Lieutenant  D.  C.  Shanks  (now  Major-General 
Shanks)   was  appointed  professor  of  mathematics. 

Session  of  1895-96.  The  mess  was  moved  from  the  old  pavilion 
to  the  new  mess-hall,  where  it  now  is.  The  Legislature  authorized  the 
college  to  issue  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $15,000  to  erect  a  water  tower, 
which  was  built  under  the  direction  of  Colonel  Patton  and  Professor 
Randolph,  the  board  having  purchased  fifty  acres  from  the  Houston 
estate  to  secure  the  spring  which  is  still  the  source  of  our  water  sup- 
ply- 

Another  important  event  at  this  time  was  the  act  of  the  Legisla- 
ture allowing  the  Virginia  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College  to  be 
legally  known  as  "The  Virginia  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College 
and  Polytechnic  Institute,"  whence  comes  our  well  known  "V.  P.  I." 
The  Legislature  placed  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  experiment 
station  at  Blacksburg  the  cattle  quarantine  and  the  enforcement  of 
laws  with  regard  to  insects  injurious  to  fruit  culture.  Professor  W. 
B.  Alwood  was  made  state  entomologist,  and  Dr.  E.  P.  Niles  was  made 
state  veterinarian. 

The  Christmas  holidays  were  increased  by  two  weeks  and  the 
spring  session  was  lengthened  to  enable  the  corps  to  take  part  in  the 
Confederate  reunion  at  Richmond,  in  late  June.  Commencement  was 
on  June  19,  and  on  June  24  the  battalion,  of  four  companies  of  infan- 
try, one  battery  of  light  artillery,  the  band  and  staff  officers,  left  for 
Richmond,  where  they  arrived  at  6  P.  M.  The  cadets  were  escorted 
by  one  of  the  military  companies  to  their  camp  near  the  Soldiers' 
Home.  The  students  had  invited  as  their  guest  on  the  trip  our  veteran 
chaplain,  Rev.  George  Gray,  and  had  presented  him  with  a  suitable 
chaplain's  uniform.  The  old  gentleman  considered  it  a  duty  of  honor 
to  march  by  the  side  of  the  corps  the  whole  distance  from  the  depot 
to  the  camp  at  the  Soldiers'  Home,  and  his  venerable  and  military 
appearance  excited  much  interest  along  the  line  of  march.  The  exhi- 
bition drills  and  parades  drew  large  crowds,  and  the  sham  battle 
roused  to  such  a  pitch  of  excitement  the  old  soldiers  present  that 
several  of  them  tried  to  assume  control  of  the  artillery  and  direct  the 


Virginia   Polytechnic    Institute  19 

boys  when  and  how  to  work  the  guns.  At  the  laying  of  the  corner- 
stone for  the  Jefferson  Davis  monument,  the  band  by  request  furnished 
music  during  the  exercises.  That  afternoon  Colonel  Shanks  dismissed 
the  battalion,  and  the  cadets  returned  to  their  homes. 

During  this  session,  dissatisfied  with  the  black  and  gray  colors 
which  had  been  adopted,  and  which  wrere  unpleasantly  sug- 
gestive when  worn  in  stripes,  the  corps,  with  the  help  of  Dr.  Sheib 
and  others  investigated  the  matter  of  colors,  taking  note  of  those 
already  adopted  by  the  colleges  of  the  country.  Finding  that  orange 
and  maroon  made  at  that  time  an  unique  combination,  not  in  use  else- 
where, these  were  adopted  as  the  official  college  colors,  in  the  fall  of 
1896.  They  were  first  worn  by  an  athletic  team  on  October  20,  1896, 
in  a  game  against  Roanoke  College.  At  this  time  also,  the  college  yell 
of  "Rip,  Rah,  Ree,"  etc.,  was  abandoned,  and  after  some  competition 
and  many  suggestions  the  now  familiar  "Hokie,  Hokie"  cheer  became 
the  standard  yell. 

In  the  spring  of  1896  Field-day  exercises  were  held  for  the  first 
time.  There  was  no  graded  running  track,  scarcely  any  appliances 
for  hurdles,  jumping,  etc.,  save  what  had  been  made  and  improvised 
by  the  boys  themselves.  None  of  the  contestants  had  done  any  pre- 
liminary training  at  all,  yet  some  good  records  were  made,  such  as 
the  running  broad  jump  of  over  nineteen  feet  by  Luther  Johns. 
Ingles,  too,  made  the  hundred-yard  dash  in  ten  seconds.  First  place 
was  won  by  Lewis  Ingles,  who  was  adjudged  the  best  all-around  ath- 
lete, with  Johns  as  second. 

Instructor  Parrott  was  promoted  to  be  assistant  professor;  and 
the  following  were  promoted  from  assistants  to  instructors:  A.  W. 
Drinkard  ('93)  ;  J.  W.  Stull  ('93)  ;  F.  D.  Wilson  ('94)  ;  L.  W.  Jerrell 
('95)  ;  F.  S.  Roop  ('97)  was  made  instructor  in  veterinary  science, 
and  C.  G.  Guignard,  assistant  in  machine  work.  Dr.  Kent  Black,  one 
of  the  college  physicians,  resigned,  leaving  Dr.  Henderson  in  sole 
charge. 

Attendance,  335. 

Session  of  1896-97.  Instructor  F.  D.  Wilson  resigned  to  study 
at  Johns  Hopkins,  and  Mr.  W.  B.  Ellett  was  appointed  to  fill  his  place 
in  the  chemistry  department. 

An  entertainment  for  the  benefit  of  athletics,  that  will  be  remem- 
bered with  amusement  by  the  alumni  of  that  day,  was  the  presenta- 
tion of  "Mrs.  Jariey's  wax  works,"  gotten  up  by  Miss  Susie  McBryde. 
One  of  the  features  of  this  entertainment  was  our  240-pound  football 
guard,  "Jumbo"  Pelter,  over  six  feet  tall,  who  was  dressed  to  suit  the 
character  of  "Little  Nell." 

During  the  spring,  the  new  water-works  system  was  completed; 
the  tank,  elevated  150  feet  above  the  level  of  the  athletic  field,  had  a 
capacity  of  50,000  gallons. 

In  June,  Assistant  Rasche  was  made  instructor,  and  R.  C.  Stuart 
('95)  was  made  assistant  in  machine  work. 

Attendance,  336. 


20 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 


Session  of  1897-98.  By  this  time,  through  the  untiring  interest 
of  Dr.  Sheib,  athletics  had  been  placed  on  a  fairly  firm  basis,  and  the 
need  was  evident  for  a  college  paper  especially  devoted  to  the  interests 
of  athletics,  although  the  "Gray  Jacket,"  a  publication  of  more 
literary  pretensions,  had  always  had  a  department  devoted  to  this 
branch  of  college  life.  Accordingly,  "The  Cohee"  was  established, 
largely  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  S.  H.  Sheib,  a  nephew  of  Dr.  Sheib. 
The  first  issue  appeared  on  December  8,  1897,  and  the  paper  lived 
until  June,  1898,  when,  through  lack  of  financial  support,  it  sus- 
pended. It  was  a  bright,  newsy  sheet,  covering  points  of  general 
interest  in  college  news,  as  well  as  athletics.  About  this  time  two 
other  organizations  were  started,  which  did  much  to  help  in  general 


Barns,  creamery,  horticultural  building,  and  Prof.  Alwood's  residence, 

1894-95. 


college  life.  A  dramatic  club,  under  the  name  of  "Puffs  and  Queues," 
was  developed  through  the  influence  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Sheib  and  the 
Misses  Patton,  aided  by  some  of  the  best  talent  among  the  students. 
Some  excellent  selections  were  successfully  attempted,  some  that  had 
run  well  on  the  boards  of  large  theaters,  such  as  "Charley's  aunt," 
"All  on  account  of  a  sandwich,"  etc.  The  "Thespian  Club"  had  not 
discontinued,  but  it  was  composed  entirely  of  students.  The  need  for 
a  good  orchestra  called  to  the  front  a  small  group  of  music  lovers, 
including  some  of  the  ladies  of  the  faculty,  and  for  three  sessions 
these  worked  together,  with  some  additions,  developing  an  orchestra 
of  no  mean  merit.  The  original  members  were:  Miss  Margaret  Pat- 
ton,  piano;  Mrs.  W.  D.  Saunders,  violin;  Frank  Carper,  violin;  Joe 
Brown,  cornet;   "Bill"  Cox,  bass  horn;   "Chess"   Brown,  double  bass 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute  21 

fiddle;  Professor  Smyth,  clarinet.  Later,  Mr.  Jackson,  violin,  and  H. 
C.  Michie,  clarinet,  were  added;  and  during  the  last  year  of  the  exist- 
ence of  the  orchestra,  Mrs.  R.  C.  Price  was  pianist,  and  "Jack"  EofF, 
violinist.  The  bass  violin  purchased  by  this  orchestra  is  still  doing 
duty  in  the  orchestra. 

On  May  17,  1898,  field-day  was  again  observed,  though  again 
without  much  preliminary  training-.  Curtis  Rorebeck  easily  won  first 
place  as  best  all-around  athlete,  and  Cannon  and  Bean  (now  Dr.  R. 
Bennett  Bean,  of  the  University  of  Virginia)  tied  for  the  second 
place. 

This  was  the  year  of  the  Spanish-American  war,  and  "The  Co- 
hee"  for  April,  1898,  contains  a  copy  of  a  communication  to  Governor 
Hoge  Tyler  from  the  corps,  tendering-  their  services  in  a  body  for  the 
defense  of  their  country,  and  petitioning  that  the  Governor  request 
the  U.  S.  War  Department,  in  the  event  of  the  acceptance  of  the  offer 
of  the  corps,  to  detail  Lieutenant  Shanks  as  commandant  of  the  corps. 
This  petition  is  signed  by 

J.  B.  Danforth,  Capt.  Co.  D. 
J.  A.  Burruss,  Capt.  Battery  E. 
Benjamin  Harrison,  Capt.  Co.  B. 
Edward   Graham,   Capt.    Co.   C. 
J.  S.  A.  Johnson,  Capt.  Co.  A. 

The  corps,  however,  was  not  called  on,  and  Colonel  Shanks,  who  had 
been  our  commandant  for  four  years,  was  ordered  for  duty  elsewhere, 
eventually  winning  laurels  as  commandant  of  Iloilo  in  the  Philippines. 
Many  of  the  boys  entered  service  in  the  army,  and  nearly  the  whole  of 
the  band  were  on  duty  in  camp  in  Florida. 

During  this  session  a  cannery  was  erected  near  the  creamery. 
This  preserved  the  products  from  the  horticultural  grounds  for  use  in 
the  mess  and  for  sale  also. 

Rev.  George  T.  Gray,  our  senior  chaplain,  died  on  October  29,  and 
wras  buried  with  military  honors. 

Dr.  A.  T.  Finch  ('92)  was  appointed  commandant  of  cadets  and 
assistant  professor  of  physiology  and  materia  medica. 

Dr.  Roop  resigning,  Dr.  Charles  M.  McCulloch  was  appointed 
assistant  professor  of  veterinary  science  and  state  veterinarian.  As- 
sistant Professor  Parrott  was  made  adjunct  professor,  and  Mr.  C.  D. 
Taliaferro  was  made  secretary  to  the  president.  Mr.  J.  P.  Harvey 
resigned  as  leader  of  the  band,  being  on  duty  in  Florida,  and  Mr. 
Frank  Carper  was  appointed  in  his  place. 

Attendance  this  session,  333. 

Session  of  1898-99.  In  July  Mr.  D.  O.  Matthews  was  made  mar- 
shal. In  August  Dr.  E.  E.  Sheib  and  Professor  Walker  Hurt  resigned. 
Dr.  R.  H.  Hudnall  was  elected  to  the  chair  of  English,  and  Mr.  G.  W. 
Walker  was  appointed  assistant  professor  of  mathematics,  English 
and  Latin.  The  department  of  electrical  engineering  and  physics  was 
divided  and  Mr.  C.  E.  Vawter,  a  son  of  the  rector  of  the  board  of  vis- 


22  Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 

itors,  was  appointed  acting  professor  of  mathematics  and  physics. 
Mr.  A.  W.  Drinkard  was  made  secretary  of  the  faculty. 

A  refrigerating-  plant  was  erected  in  connection  with  the  wooden 
creamery  building.  Up  to  this  date  the  college  was  supplied  with  ice 
from  the  ice-pond,  all  the  faculty  subscribing  to  the  expense  of  the 
underground  ice-house,  which  was  about  opposite  the  house  now  occu- 
pied by  Dr.  Watson.  Later,  two  ice-houses  were  built  "under  the 
spreading  chestnut  tree,"  still  alive,  near  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building. 
These  were  discontinued  when  the  refrigerating  plant  was  built. 

Captain  C.  E.  Vawter,  who  had  been  rector  of  the  board  since  the 
reorganization  of  the  college  in  1890,  and  who  had  served  the  college 
for  fourteen  years,  resigned,  and  Mr.  J.  Thompson  Brown  was 
appointed  rector  in  his  stead. 

On  June  20,  1899,  was  laid  the  corner-stone  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
building,  a  triumph  to  the  devotion  and  energy  of  Mr.  Lawrence 
Priddy,  who  had  traveled  north  and  south  to  secure  the  funds  there- 
for. The  building  was  constructed  by  Mr.  Wesley  Gray,  of  Blacks- 
burg. 

Attendance  this  session,  303. 

Session  of  1899-1900.  The  offices  of  the  president,  commandant, 
and  treasurer  were  moved  in  September  from  Academic  Building  No. 
1  to  the  rock  house,  occupied  at  one  time  as  a  residence  by  Professor 
Morton,  and  later  by  Professor  Alwood.  The  latter  moved  to  the 
house  built  for  him  in  the  old  orchard,  now  the  residence  of  Dr.  Wat- 
son. On  the  night  of  February  14,  1900,  the  rock  house  was  destroyed 
by  fire,  in  spite  of  the  efforts  of  the  fire  brigade.  The  wind  was  blow- 
ing a  gale  and  the  thermometer  was  about  ten  degrees  above  zero. 
Colonel  Finch  managed  to  break  into  his  office  on  the  ground  floor  and 
save  his  records.  The  contents  of  the  college  safe,  including  the  class 
records,  were  subsequently  found  intact,  though  the  safe  had  fallen 
through  into  the  basement.  The  executive  offices  were  then  moved  to 
the  house  formerly  occupied  by  Professor  Christian,  and  later  always 
known  as  the  commandant's  house,  which  at  this  date  was  not  in  use, 
as  Colonel  Finch  was  living  elsewhere. 

A  bond  issue  of  $100,000  was  authorized  by  the  Legislature  for 
buildings  and  equipment.  During  the  spring  the  outbuildings  and 
fences  of  the  old  Christian  house  (now  the  commandant's  house)  were 
removed  and  the  grounds  thrown  into  the  campus.  On  April  1,  Dr. 
John  Spencer,  of  Canada,  was  appointed  to  succeed  Dr.  McCulloch. 

In  May,  the  corps,  under  Colonel  Finch,  attended  the  carnival  in 
Richmond,  was  quartered  in  the  auditorium  at  the  fair  grounds  and 
took  part  in  the  parade. 

In  June,  Dr.  Finch  resigned,  and  Mr.  J.  S.  A.  Johnson  ('98)  was 
appointed  assistant  professor  of  mechanical  engineering  and  military 
science,  and  commandant  of  cadets.  Dr.  F.  D.  Wilson  ('94)  was  made 
instructor  in  chemistry.  Instructors  Conner  and  Rasche  were  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  assistant  professor.  Mr.  Frank  Carper  resigned 
as  director  of  the  band  and  Mr.  J.  P.  Harvey  was  reappointed.  Mr. 
John  Shultz  was  appointed  mess  steward. 


Virginia    Polytechnic   Institute  23 

A  uniform  department  was  created  with  Mr.  T.  J.  Walsh,  formerly 
first  assistant  cutter  at  West  Point,  as  superintendent.  The  depart- 
ment was  assigned  the  Starkey  house,  recently  purchased,  and  later 
used  as  a  residence  for  Dr.  Barlow.  Now,  completely  rebuilt,  this 
house  is  occupied  by  Professor  Stahl.  The  Camper  property  to  the 
west  of  the  mess  hall  was  purchased,  and  a  wooden  house  was  erected 
for  Mr.  Shultz.     This  is  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Owens. 

Attendance,  343. 

Session  of  1900-1901.  Professor  Pritchard's  house  was  finished 
in  September  and  a  new  brick  dormitory  (No.  3)  of  four  stories  and 
sixty  rooms  was  completed,  thus  finishing  the  south  side  of  the  front 
quadrangle. 

A  stone  structure  to  the  north  of  the  dormitories,  on  the  site  of 
the  baseball  grounds  of  1890-91,  was  completed  during  the  fall  for  use 
as  a  heating-plant,  and  in  April  the  electric  light  plant  was  moved 
from  the  machine  shop  and  installed  in  this  building.  This  furnished 
power  for  the  campus  and  town  lights,  and  steam  heat  for  the  dormi- 
tories, Science  Hall  and  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building. 

The  corps,  under  Colonel  Johnson,  attended  in  June  the  Pan- 
American  Exposition  in  Buffalo,  being  quartered  in  tents  on  the  expo- 
sition grounds.     The  boys  returned  on  June  9,  before  Commencement. 

In  June,  Dr.  F.  D.  Wilson  and  Mr.  H.  L.  Price  ('98)  were  pro- 
moted to  assistant  professorships,  and  Assistant  Waddell  was  made  an 
instructor.  The  following  new  appointments  were  made:  A.  P. 
Spencer,  of  Canada,  instructor  in  animal  husbandry;  S.  B.  Andrews, 
machine  work,  and  H.  M.  Faulkner,  forge  and  foundry. 

Attendance,  386. 

The  Willis  property,  west  of  the  mess  hall,  was  purchased  and  the 
house  remodeled  for  a  dwelling  for  Mr.  D.  O.  Matthews.  This  is  now 
the  residence  of  Professor  Gudheim. 

Session  of  1901-1902.  The  athletic  and  parade  grounds,  which 
in  1894  had  been  located  on  a  part  of  the  grounds  to  the  southwest  of 
Professor  Campbell's  house  (which  stood  between  the  present  library 
and  the  field  house),  were  increased  by  a  further  grant  of  land  from 
the  horticultural  tract,  and  the  department  of  horticulture  was  given 
25  acres  across  the  stream  west  of  the  ice-pond.  No  attempt  had  as 
yet  been  made  to  grade  and  level  the  athletic  field,  which  sloped  grad- 
ually to  the  south,  as  may  now  be  seen  by  the  slope  at  the  field  house, 
and  the  bank  at  the  south  end  of  the  field. 

The  new  building  erected  as  a  science  hall  was  sufficiently  com- 
pleted for  occupation,  and  housed  the  departments  of  chemistry,  geol- 
ogy, biology,  and  physics,  with  electrical  engineering  in  the  basement. 
The  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building  was  opened  in  September,  with  Mr.  H.  J.  Mc- 
Intyre,  of  Salem,  as  general  secretary.  The  First  Academic  building, 
vacated  by  the  removal  of  the  administrative  offices  and  the  chemical 
department,  was  assigned  to  civil  and  mechanical  engineering  and 
drawing,  and  contained  also  the  armory.  The  Second  Academic  build- 
ing, after  the  removal  of  the  departments  of  biology,  physics,  and 
electrical  engineering  was  assigned  to  English  and  modern  languages 


24  Virginia   Polytechnic    Institute 

on  the  main  floor  and  basement.  The  Lee  and  Maury  Societies,  and 
the  library,  as  heretofore,  still  occupied  the  second  floor,  the  lofty 
ceilings  of  which  were  then  on  a  level  with  the  eaves  of  the  building. 

On  April  1,  the  corps  of  five  infantry  companies,  the  battery, 
band  and  drum-corps,  left  Christiansburg  under  the  command  of 
Colonel  Johnson  for  the  exposition  in  Charleston,  S.  C.  The  president, 
Dr.  McBryde,  and  a  number  of  the  faculty  and  others  accompanied 
the  corps.  On  arrival  in  Charleston  the  corps  was  quartered  on  the 
exposition  grounds.  In  spite  of  a  cold,  raw  spell  of  weather,  there 
were  many  enjoyable  incidents,  and  the  daily  exhibition  drills  on  the 
grounds  were  highly  complimented  and  attracted  crowds  of  specta- 
tors. Through  the  influence  of  Mayor  Smyth,  the  corps  was  assigned 
an  important  position  in  the  parade  which  escorted  President  Roose- 
velt through  the  city  to  the  exposition  grounds,  where  the  President  of 
the  United  States  reviewed  the  trooys.  The  many  bands  in  the  parade 
played  various  marches,  mostly  national,  as  they  passed  in  review.  As 
V.  P.  I.  drew  near  the  balcony  in  which  the  president  stood,  Mayor 
Smyth  said  to  him,  "Now  here  come  my  boys."  At  that  moment,  as 
though  preconcerted,  our  band  struck  up  "Dixie" — the  only  time  it 
had  been  played  on  the  march.  The  president's  characteristic  smile 
was  all  that  could  be  seen  of  his  face,  as  he  waved  enthusiastically  to 
the  corps,  and  the  crowd  went  wild. 

In  the  latter  part  of  April  President  McBryde  moved  into  the  new 
house  in  the  grove,  still  the  president's  house,  and  the  outbuildings  and 
fences  around  the  old  house  were  removed  preparatory  to  converting 
this  into  the  infirmary. 

This  being  the  tenth  year  of  Dr.  McBryde's  administration,  a 
movement  was  started,  with  Dr.  F.  D.  Wilson  as  chairman,  for  a  de- 
cennial celebration  at  Commencement.  With  the  hearty  approval  and 
cooperation  of  alumni  and  former  students  sufficient  funds  were 
raised  to  purchase  tablets  to  the  memory  of  Professors  Fitts  and 
Christian,  and  to  have  painted  a  fine  portrait  of  Dr.  McBryde  by 
Bransom.  At  Commencement,  Dr.  W.  E.  Dodd  ('95),  now  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Chicago,  in  behalf  of  the  alumni,  presented  the  portrait  of 
Dr.  McBryde;  Judge  W.  M.  Pierce  ('84)  presented  the  tablet  com- 
memorative of  Professor  Christian;  and  Rev.  E.  P.  Miner  ('93),  the 
tablet  in  memory  of  Professor  Fitts.  This  portrait  and  two  tablets 
are  now  on  the  walls  of  the  library.  A  duplicate  of  the  portrait  was 
presented  to  Dr.  McBryde  by  the  students  and  faculty. 

In  June  Assistant  Professor  Spencer  succeeded  Dr.  Niles,  resigned, 
as  professor  of  veterinary  medicine;  Adjunct  Professor  Parrott  was 
made  professor;  Assistant  Professor  J.  S.  A.  Johnson  was  promoted 
to  be  professor  of  military  science  and  tactics  and  adjunct  professor 
of  mechanical  engineering;  and  the  following  were  promoted  from 
assistant  professor  to  adjunct  professor:  W.  D.  Saunders,  G.  W. 
Walker,  F.  D.  Wilson  ('94),  and  H.  L.  Price  ('98),  and  Instructor  A. 
W.  Drinkard  ('93)  was  made  assistant  professor.  New  appointments: 
Dr.  Meade  Ferguson  ('96),  assistant  professor  of  agriculture;  Dr.  J. 
G.  Ferneyhough   ('98),  assistant  professor  of  veterinary  science  and 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute  25 

state  veterinarian;  W.  M.  Brodie  ('01),  assistant  in  mathematics  and 
first  assistant  commandant;  T.  G.  Wood  ('01),  second  assistant  com- 
mandant; J.  F.  Strauss  ('94),  assistant  in  drawing;  C.  P.  Miles  ('01), 
assistant  in  French  and  German;  J.  L.  Phillips  ('97),  assistant  state 
entomologist  and  pathologist;  and  C.  D.  Taliaferro,  registrar. 

During  the  session  a  system  of  sewerage,  with  sewage  disposal 
plant  was  completed.  This  system  is  now  no  longer  in  use.  The  house 
and  grounds  now  occupied  by  Professor  Campbell  had  been  the  old 
Francisco  place,  and  in  the  early  '90s  had  been  rented  as  an  infirmary 
by  the  college.  Subsequently  it  had  been  bought  and  enlarged  by  Mr. 
Hampton  Hoge,  and  the  handsome  boxwood  avenue  in  front  of  the 
house  cut  down.  This  house,  with  six  acres  of  land,  was  now  pur- 
chased by  the  college  and  assigned  to  Professor  Campbell  as  a  resi- 
dence. 

Attendance,  472. 

Session  of  1902-03.  In  September,  Professor  Campbell's  old  resi- 
dence, formerly  occupied  by  Dr.  Martin  P.  Scott  and  later  by  Profes- 
sor Fitts,  was  fitted  up  and  assigned  to  the  department  of  agriculture 
for  lecture  and  laboratory  rooms.  The  outbuildings  and  fences  were 
removed  and  the  grounds  thrown  into  the  campus.  As  before  stated, 
this  house  was  torn  down  when  the  building  now  used  as  a  library 
was  erected  as  the  auditorium,  and  its  material  was  used  to  construct 
a  house  for  Dr.  Hudnall,  now  occupied  by  Professor  Burkhart.  Pro- 
fessor Parrott's  residence  was  also  built  on  the  recently  purchased 
Gitt  property,  and  Professor  Lee's  house,  built  largely  of  material 
from  the  old  Effinger  house  (once  used  as  an  infirmary,  in  1891),  was 
erected,  largely  by  Professor  Lee  himself.  The  college  post-office  and 
book-room  was  established  in  the  marshal's  office  and  an  adjoining 
room  in  Barrack  No.  1.  Professor  Alwood's  new  residence,  in  the  old 
"Solitude"  orchard,  was  completed  in  the  fall.  It  was  then  the  next 
house  in  faculty  row,  south  of  the  house  now  occupied  by  Dr.  New- 
man, and  the  next  south  of  it  was  the  old  "Solitude"  mansion,  then 
occupied  by  Professor  Nourse,  and  now  by  Professor  Saunders.  Dr. 
Watson  now  occupies  the  Alwood  house. 

In  June,  1903,  the  new  office  of  dean  of  the  faculty  was  created, 
and  Professor  Smyth,  who  had  for  some  time  been  performing  the 
duties  usually  assigned  to  such  an  office,  was  made  officially  dean  of 
the  faculty,  being  the  first  occupant  of  the  office.  Dr.  J.  E.  Williams 
was  elected  adjunct  professor  of  mathematics  and  Mr.  H.  L.  Wilson, 
of  geology  and  mineralogy;  Mr.  J.  B.  McBryde,  assistant  professor  of 
organic  chemistry,  and  Dr.  C.  M.  Newman,  of  English;  the  following 
instructors  were  apponted:  G.  L.  Fentress,  mathematics;  J.  R.  C. 
Brown,  Spanish  and  history;  and  P.  H.  Eley,  English  and  Spanish; 
and  J.  H.  Gibboney  ('01),  assistant  in  analytical  chemistry  and 
assistant  chemist  at  the  experiment  station.  Promotions  were  made 
as  follows:  assistant  professor  to  adjunct  professor,  Messrs.  Conner 
('92),  Rasche,  Ferguson  ('96)  ;  assistant  to  instructor,  Messrs.  Brodie, 
Wood,  Miles,  and  Moncure,  the  latter  all  alumni. 

Attendance  this  session,  627. 


26  Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 

Session  of  1903-04.  In  August,  Miss  M.  G.  Lacy  was  appointed 
librarian,  and  Major  B.  R.  Selden,  registrar,  to  succeed  Mr.  C.  D.  Tal- 
iaferro, who  died  in  July.  A  brick  building  was  completed  with  a 
lower  floor  for  the  laundry  department  and  an  upper  floor  for  the 
tailor  shop.  This  is  the  building  now  used  entirely  for  the  laundry 
department.  The  old  Starkey  cottage,  used  as  a  tailor  shop,  was 
assigned  to  the  state  entomologist,  J.  R.  Phillips,  for  office  and  labora- 
tories. 


BHHI 

■"-"■""•  ' """" 

m*'u*    -  "iiHinmiiMn 

. 

The  beginning  of  "faculty  row,"   1895.     Ice-house  on  left  end,  Prof. 
R.  C.  Price's  house,  later  removed  to  make  way  for  the  shops  building, 

on  right. 

This  session  saw  the  birth  of  "The  Virginia  Tech,"  the  delayed 
successor  to  the  short-lived  "Cohee."  "The  Tech"  was  the  official 
organ  of  the  athletic  association,  and  started  with  Professor  J.  B.  Mc- 
Bryde  as  editor-in-chief,  the  associate  editors  being  four  faculty  mem- 
bers and  a  representative  from  each  of  the  classes.  The  first  issue 
appeared  on  October  7,  1903.  The  bleachers  were  also  erected  on  the 
athletic  grounds  through  the  activity  of  "The  Tech"  and  presented  to 
the  association. 

The  old  rock  house,  first  a  residence  and  then  used  as  an  admin- 
istration building,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  February  14,  1900, 
was  rebuilt  and  enlarged  and  reoccupied  by  the  executive  department 
in  April,  1904.  It  contained  the  offices  of  the  president,  dean,  com- 
mandant, registrar,  and  secretary,  and  the  fireproof  vault. 

On  April  19,  President  McBryde  was  unanimously  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  University  of  Virginia  by  its  board  of  visitors,  being  the 
first  president-elect  of  the  University.  Dr.  McBryde,  however,  declin- 
ed the  honor,  stating  his  reasons  in  full  in  a  letter  addressed  to  the 
board,  extracts  from  which  letter  were  published  in  the  daily  papers 
of  the  state.  It  will  be  of  interest  also  to  mention  here  that  in  1893 


Virginia    Poi.ytkchnic    Institi  tk 


27 


President  Grover  Cleveland  had  offered  to  Dr.  McBryde  the  secretary- 
ship of  agriculture,  but  he  declined  it,  feeling  that  duty  required  him 
to  remain  at  Blacksburg  while  matters  here  were  still  in  a  formative 
condition. 

In  May  the  corps  left  for  the  St.  Louis  exposition.  It  took  two 
sections  to  carry  the  party  of  554  people.  The  first  section  carried  the 
six  companies  of  infant  ry,  and  on  the  second  were  the  band,  battery, 
signal  corps,  drum  and  bugle  corps,  staff,  postgraduates  and  former 
students.  Although  there  was  much  rain  during  the  stay  at  the  ex- 
position grounds,  the  general  verdict  was  that  it  was  the  most  success- 
ful trip  ever  taken  by  the  corps.  Of  the  large  number  of  military 
organizations  at  the  exposition  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  the  uni- 
versal opinion  was  that  our  cadets  ranked  easily  next  to  those  from 
West  Point.  The  corps  returned  on  June  8,  just  before  Commence- 
ment. 


The  original  Thespian  Club,  1894-95. 


The  following  promotions  were  made  in  the  faculty:  adjunct 
professor  to  professor,  Drs.  Williams  and  Wilson  and  Professors 
Walker  and  H.  L.  Price;  assistant  professor  to  adjunct  professor,  Dr. 
Newman;  assistant  to  instructors,  J.  H.  Gibboney,  H.  L.  Davidson, 
and  L.  O'Shaughnessy.  Resignations:  Messrs.  H.  L.  Wilson,  J.  R.  C. 
Brown,  and  P.  H.  Eley.  Appointments:  Dr.  T.  L.  Watson,  professor 
of  geology;  Mr.  A.  M.  Soule,  professor  of  animal  husbandry;  Mr.  F. 
H.  Abbott,  assistant  professor  of  English;  Mr.  J.  R.  Fain,  assistant 
professor  of  agronomy;  Mr.  Hugh  L.  WTorthington,  instructor  in 
modern  languages;  and  Mr.  P.  0.  Vanatter,  instructor  in  agronomy. 

Attendance  this  session,  727. 


28 


Virginia   Polytechnic    Institute 


The  college  was  now  organized  into  four  departments,  each  with 
its  own  faculty  and  dean:  academic  department,  Professor  T.  P. 
Campbell,  dean;  scientific  department,  Professor  R.  J.  Davidson,  dean; 
engineering  department,  Colonel  William  M.  Patton,  dean;  agricul- 
tural department,  Professor  A.  M.  Soule,  dean.  An  executive  council 
was  formed,  consisting  of  the  president,  Dean  Smyth  as  dean  of  the 
faculty,  Commandant  J.  S.  A.  Johnson,  and  the  deans  of  the  four  de- 
partments. Professor  Soule  was  appointed  director  of  the  experiment 
station,  and  Mr.  W.  B.  Ellett  ('94),  assistant  chemist  at  the  station. 
On  June  18,  Professor  R.  C.  Price  resigned  the  chair  of  industrial 
chemistry  and  metallurgy. 


i  ' 


The  cadet  battalion  in  1895,  Lt.  Shanks  (now  Major-General  Shanks) 

in  command. 


During  the  summer,  the  sloping  hill  between  Barracks  3  and  5 
was  cut  down  and  faced  with  a  heavy  stone  wall,  approached  by  a 
flight  of  stone  steps.  Later,  it  was  found  necessary  to  guard  the  par- 
apet with  the  present  heavy  iron  railing,  to  prevent  accidents.  Dr. 
Smyth's  residence,  between  the  Alwood  house  and  the  ice-pond,  was 
completed  and  occupied  in  September. 

Through  the  influence  of  Professor  Randolph,  the  railroad  which 
the  Virginia  Anthracite  and  Railway  Company  had  constructed  from 
Christiansburg  to  Merrimac  Mines,  was  completed  through  to  Blacks- 
burg,  and  the  arrival  of  the  first  passenger  train  on  the  morning  of 
September  15,  1904,  was  a  great  event  to  town  and  college.  Primitive 
as  the  road  was  then,  and  absurd  as  was  the  packing-box  of  a  depot, 
the  visitor  of  today  has  no  idea  of  the  tremendous  boon  it  was.  There 
were  no  autos  in  those  days — at  least  not  around  Blacksburg — and 
even  if  there  had  been  any,  the  road  from  Christiansburg  had  not  been 
graded  to  even  what  it  now  is,  and  it  was  not  metalled  save  imper- 
fectly for  a  short  distance.     It  was  often  actually  impassable,  even  on 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute  29 

foot,  during  the  winter  and  early  spring  months.  Hack  lines  of 
archaic  types  connected  Blacksburg  with  the  outer  world,  and  the  fine 
macadam  road  of  today  was  not  existent  even  in  dreams.  As  one 
looks  back,  it  is  a  wonder  how  we  managed.  Now  that  the  Norfolk 
and  Western  Railroad  has  built  us  the  modern  depot  and  given  us  a 
good  service,  one  often  smiles  at  the  recollection  of  the  old  "Huckle- 
berry," with  its  wheezy  engine  and  its  one  composite  coach  and  bag- 
gage car. 

Session  of  1901-0.").  The  new  auditorium  being  now  under  con- 
struction, the  Commencement  hall,  over  the  mess,  was  turned  over  to 
the  dining  department  to  hold  the  large  overflow  of  students,  and  the 
four-story  brick  annex  completed  in  September  came  into  immediate 
use.  This  contained,  as  now,  the  steward's  office,  the  private  mess, 
store-rooms,  bakery,  etc.,  and  eleven  rooms  on  the  fourth  floor  were 
known  as  the  "Y.  M.  C.  A.  annex,"  and  were  used  as  a  dormitory.  A 
large  addition  was  made  to  the  machine  shops  (the  old  Preston-Olin 
building,  used  as  a  dormitory  in  1888).  This  addition  made  a  quad- 
rangle with  a  small  court  in  the  center,  the  old  building  being  the 
northwest  side  of  the  square.  Dormitory  No.  5  was  completed  in  Jan- 
uary. 

On  February  1,  the  schedules  were  changed,  starting  at  8:20  in 
the  morning  and  running  to  12:20,  each  class  period  being  for  fifty 
minutes,  and  the  laboratory  hours  were  from  1:30  to  3:45  in  the  after- 
noon, with  military  drill  from  3:45  to  4:30. 

A  large  stock  barn  and  two  cottages  were  completed  for  the  de- 
partment of  agriculture. 

On  the  night  of  February  22,  1905,  the  science  hall  was  totally 
destroyed  by  fire.  The  day  having  been  a  holiday,  the  building  was 
not  in  use  that  day,  and  when  after  midnight  the  fire  was  discovered 
it  was  beyond  control.  Very  little  of  the  equipment  was  saved.  The 
loss  to  the  institution  was  about  $30,000,  not  including  the  severe  loss 
individually  to  the  professors  in  books,  manuscripts,  and  private  col- 
lections, wrhich  latter  losses  were  of  course  never  made  good.  It  was 
due  to  the  heroic  efforts  of  the  students,  particularly  of  Cadet  D.  B. 
Hines,  that  the  adjoining  barrack  building,  and  possibly  the  whole  of 
that  side  of  the  quadrangle,  were  saved  from  burning.  At  the  risk  of 
his  life  Mr.  Hines  lay,  head  down  and  projecting  over  the  steep  slop- 
ing roof  of  Barrack  No.  4,  held  by  other  students,  and  applied  wet 
blankets  and  water  to  the  scorching  wood-work  of  the  barrack's  win- 
dows and  eaves.  In  recognition  of  his  gallantry,  Mr.  Hines  was  pre- 
sented with  a  gold  medal,  and  all  his  fees  were  remitted.  Although 
some  demoralization  from  the  fire  might  have  been  excusable,  imme- 
diate steps  were  taken  to  accommodate  the  departments  now  without 
a  home;  vacant  rooms  in  barrack  No.  4  were  called  into  use  as  class 
and  laboratory  rooms,  and  with  some  doubling  up  classes  were  re- 
sumed in  a  couple  of  days. 

The  stone  building  designed  for  an  auditorium  (now  the  library) 
being  completed  in  time,  Commencement  exercises  were  held  therein. 
The  wing  of  the  building,  now  used  for  the  tailor  shop  upstairs  and 


30  Virginia   Polytechnic    Institute 

dwelling  and  library  office  rooms  below,  was  fitted  up  with  accommo- 
dations on  the  lower  floor  for  the  board  of  visitors  on  their  official 
visits,  and  the  large  room  upstairs  was  faculty  meeting  room.  A  new 
science  hall  was  started  on  the  foundations  of  the  burnt  building,  to 
be  similar  to  the  first.  The  construction  was  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  D.  O. 
Matthews,  who  had  built  the  first  one  and  also  the  auditorium  and 
other  buildings  put  up  while  he  was  superintendent  of  grounds.  The 
old  farm  barns,  handed  down,  with  additions,  from  the  old  days  when 
"Solitude"  was  the  Preston  home,  were  torn  down,  and  the  founda- 
tions were  laid  for  the  present  stone  agricultural  hall,  intended  orig- 
inally for  the  departments  of  agriculture,  horticulture,  and  veterinary 
medicine  only;  now  overcrowded  beyond  its  capacity  with  numerous 
other  departments.  At  this  same  time,  the  early  summer  of  1906,  the 
wooden  experiment  barn  was  started,  on  the  experiment  plats,  where 
it  now  stands.  A  new  brick  residence  was  completed  in  June  for  Pro- 
fessor Soule.     This  is  now  occupied  by  Dr.  Chrisman. 

The  courses  of  instruction  had  at  this  date  expanded  to  nine, 
namely,  agriculture,  horticulture,  applied  chemistry,  applied  geology, 
preparatory  medicine,  general  science,  civil,  mechanical,  and  electrical 
engineering,  each  of  four  years'  duration,  and  leading  to  the  B.  S.  de- 
gree. 

The  athletic  association,  organized  by  the  corps  in  1891,  was,  until 
1901,  under  the  control  of  student  management.  In  1901  a  system  of 
graduate  management  was  inaugurated  and  proved  very  satisfactory. 
In  1903  a  complete  reorganization  was  effected,  with  Mr.  J.  H.  Gib- 
boney  ('01)  as  graduate  manager.  The  athletic  council  was  composed 
of  two  members  of  the  faculty  committee,  two  student  members  (one 
a  postgraduate  and  one  a  member  of  the  senior  class),  the  graduate 
manager,  and  the  treasurer.  Professor  H.  L.  Price  ('98)  was  elected 
permanent  treasurer.  Football  games  were  arranged  with  the  leading 
Northern  colleges,  such  as  West  Point,  Dartmouth,  and  Annapolis. 
It  was  under  Mr.  Gibboney's  management  that  the  team  was  developed 
which  beat  the  West  Point  team  16  to  6  at  West  Point,  and  also  the 
same  season  beat  the  University  of  Virginia  11  to  0  on  Lambeth  Field. 
This  famous  team  was  composed  of  the  following  men : 

Harlan fullback 

Carpenter right  halfback 

Treadwell left  halfback 

Nutter quarterback 

Stiles center 

Stickling right  guard 

Cunningham left  guard 

Hynes right  tackle 

Wilson left  tackle 

Lewis   ( captain ) right  end 

Webber left  end 

Hanvey,  Cox,  Harris,  Hildebrand,  Diffendall  and  Lawson  were  substi- 
tutes. Professor  C.  P.  Miles  coached  the  team,  with  Mr.  Hunter  Car- 
penter, who  also  played  at  right  half. 


Virginia    Polytechnic   Institute  31 

On  May  26,  L905,  the  college  suffered  a  severe  loss  in  the  death  of 
Colonel  William  M.  Patton,  professor  of  civil  engineering  and  dean  of 
the  engineering  department. 

Attendance  this  session.  728. 

Session  of  1905-06.  The  new  science  hall  was  ready  for  occu- 
pancy during  October  of  this  fall.  Externally  similar,  it  had  some 
internal   improvements  upon  the  old  building. 

The  following  changes  occurred  among-  the  college  officers:  resig- 
nations: Secretary  Jackson,  Y.  M.  C.  A.;  Assistant  Faulkner,  in  forge 
work;  J.  P.  Harvey,  musical  director;  and  Miss  Maud  Needham,  clerk 
to  the  executive  council.  Appointments:  J.  A.  Armstrong,  secretary, 
Y.  M.  C.  A.;  J.  B.  Teany,  assistant,  in  forge  work;  H.  D.  McTier, 
musical  director;  Miss  Louise  Nielson,  clerk  to  the  executive  council; 
ami  Miss  Virginia  Patton,  clerk  to  the  commandant.  Colonel  R.  A. 
Marr  was  elected  professor  of  civil  engineering,  and  appointed  dean 
of  the  engineering  department. 

A  hazing  episode  at  the  opening  of  this  term  caused  a  profound 
stir  through  the  prominence  of  those  drawn  into  the  matter,  and  re- 
sulted in  an  investigation  by  the  Legislature.  This  was  the  famous 
Christian  case.  It  came  to  a  very  sudden  termination  by  the  hasty 
withdrawal  of  the  charges  against  the  faculty  by  the  prosecution, 
after  the  first  meeting  of  the  investigating  committee. 

On  account  of  ill  health  Dr.  McBryde  was  ordered  to  Jamaica  by 
his  physician,  in  the  early  winter,  leaving  the  rector,  Mr.  J.  Thompson 
Brown,  as  the  official  head  of  the  institution,  with  Professors  Camp- 
bell and  Smyth  jointly  acting  as  president  on  the  grounds. 

Mr.  Jarnigan  was  appointed  instructor  in  animal  husbandry. 
Messrs.  H.  L.  Davidson  and  A.  P.  Spencer  resigned  as  instructors  in 
chemistry. 

In  March  the  Legislature  appropriated  funds  for  the  completion 
of  the  agricultural  hall  and  to  pay  the  debt  incurred  in  rebuilding  the 
science  hall. 

The  first  meeting  in  the  South  of  the  student  volunteer  movement, 
held  in  Nashville,  Tennessee,  was  attended  by  delegates  from  the  V. 
P.  I.  For  the  second  time  in  its  history,  Arbor  Day  was  observed  at 
V.  P.  I.,  Dr.  Hudnall  officiating.  The  first  Field  Day  in  three  years 
was  held  on  May  11.  Professor  Smyth  was  the  official  representative 
of  V.  P.  I.  at  the  ceremonies  attending  the  installation  of  the  presi- 
dent of  the  University  of  Alabama  on  the  75th  anniversary  of  the 
founding  of  that  institution. 

Dr.  McBryde  returned  from  the  tropics  after  Commencement,  on 
June  18,  and  resumed  his  duties.  Mr.  Armstrong  resigned  as  secre- 
tary of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  Mr.  A.  S.  Johnston  was  appointed.  The 
following  changes  occurred  in  July:  Professor  Smyth  resigned  as 
dean  of  the  faculty  to  devote  his  time  to  the  duties  of  his  department; 
Colonel  J.  S.  A.  Johnson  resigned  as  commandant  to  confine  himself 
to  the  engineering  department;  Captain  G.  H.  Jamerson,  of  the  29th 
U.  S.  Infantry,  was  detailed  by  the  War  Department  and  appointed 
commandant;    and   Professor  D.   C.   Nourse   resigned  as  professor  of 


32  Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 

agronomy.  Mr.  J.  J.  Davis  was  promoted  from  assistant  to  instructor 
in  French. 

In  July  it  was  decided  to  allow  the  corps  to  attend  the  approach- 
ing Jamestown  exposition,  and  to  have  the  institution  represented  by 
a  creditable  exhibit. 

One  thousand  members  of  the  State  Farmers'  Institute,  held  in 
Roanoke,  visited  the  college  on  July  10,  coming  from  all  parts  of  the 
state. 

In  August,  Instructors  J.  M.  Johnson,  J.  H.  Gibboney,  G.  L.  Fen- 
tress and  L.  O'Shaughnessy  resigned.  The  appointment  of  Captain 
Jamerson  as  commandant  was  confirmed;  C.  M.  Mast  was  appointed 
instructor  in  physics;  J.  R.  Lewis,  assistant  in  foundry;  and  H.  D. 
McTier,  assistant  in  wood  work  and  band  director.  Dr.  Newman  was 
granted  leave  of  absence  on  the  first  cf  May  and  spent  four  months 
recuperating  and  studying  in  Europe,  returning  late  in  August. 

During  the  session,  Professor  Abbott  developed  a  very  creditable 
glee  club  which  added  much  to  the  social  life.  The  session  of  the  col- 
lege was  changed  for  the  next  year  from  a  semester  to  a  trimester 
system. 

Attendance  this  session,  619. 

Session  of  1906-07.  Beginning  with  this  session  the  control  and 
editing  of  "The  Tech"  was  placed  entirely  in  the  hands  of  student 
management. 

The  following  appointments  were  made:  H.  Gudheim,  instructor  in 
graphics;  T.  G.  Wood  ('06),  assistant  in  chemistry  and  third  assistant 
commandant;  W.  G.  Myers  ('05),  assistant  in  surveying  and  fourth 
assistant  commandant.  Miss  Hannas,  with  Miss  Garrison  assisting, 
were  appointed  nurses  in  charge  of  the  infirmary. 

In  October,  1906,  Dr.  McBryde  submitted  his  resignation  as  pres- 
ident, and  it  was  accepted  to  take  effect  at  the  close  of  the  session. 

A  new  eight-ton  refrigerating  plant  and  cold  storage  room  was 
ordered  built  as  part  of  the  wooden  creamery  building.  Arrangements 
were  made  for  exhibits  at  the  Jamestown  exposition.  A  concrete  cellar 
was  completed  east  of  the  agricultural  hall  for  fermentation  experi- 
ments. 

This  session  saw  the  birth  of  the  "Agricultural  Journal/'  pub- 
lished by  the  agricultural  students,  and  which  lived  for  two  years. 

Early  in  January  the  new  agricultural  hall  was  completed  and 
arrangements  made  for  removing  the  creamery  from  the  old  wooden 
building  to  the  basement  of  this  new  hall,  where  the  creamery  is  now 
situated.  The  greenhouses  and  heating-plant  to  the  rear  were  also 
finished.  The  old  veterinary  building  which  stood  by  what  is  now  Dr. 
Williams's  residence,  was  removed  to  its  present  site. 

In  January,  the  board  conferred  upon  Dr.  McBryde  the  honorary 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Science  and  elected  him  president  emeritus  with 
all  the  privileges  of  a  professor  of  the  institute.  Dr.  McBryde  was 
also  placed  on  the  Carnegie  Foundation. 

Professor  R.  J.  Davidson  was  elected  consulting  chemist  at  the 
experiment  station,  and  Harper  Dean  was  appointed  assistant  state 
entomologist. 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute  33 

The  old  building,  used  in  turn  as  a  residence  by  Professors  Scott, 
Pitts,  and  Campbell,  and  later  as  an  agricultural  hall,  was  ordered 
torn  down.  The  wooden  creamery  was  fitted  up  as  a  dormitory  for 
the  students  working  on  the  farm.  Some  time  later,  after  its  disuse, 
this  building  was  a  victim  to  incendiarism. 

The  corps  decided  to  abolish  the  use  of  monogram  caps. 

Dr.  T.  L.  Watson  resigned  as  geologist  to  accept  the  chair  of 
geology  in  the  University  of  Virginia,  and  Dr.  Holden,  assistant  pro- 
fessor of  geology,  continued  in  charge  of  that  department.  Professor 
A.  M.  Soule  resigned  in  April  as  director  of  the  station,  and  accepted 
a  position  in  Georgia. 

Colonel  Marr  erected  in  front  of  the  academic  buildings  the  con- 
crete pillar  upon  which  are  placed  the  exact  points  of  the  compas  and 
the  elevation  of  the  campus  above  sea-level. 

On  May  30,  Dr.  Paul  B.  Barringer,  of  the  University  of  Virginia, 
was  unanimously  elected  president  by  the  board. 

Finals  closed  on  June  2,  on  account  of  the  Jamestown  exposition, 
which  was  attended  by  the  corps. 

Attendance  this  session,  577. 


When  Dr.  McBryde  took  charge  in  June,  1891,  the  new  adminis- 
tration found  on  hand  to  begin  with:  two  brick  academic  buildings; 
one  brick  dormitory;  the  old  Preston-Olin  building,  converted  into  a 
poorly-equipped  shop  building;  two  old  wooden  buildings  (one,  a  small 
one,  used  as  a  shop,  the  other  semi-ruinous)  ;  and  five  professors' 
houses — eleven  buildings  in  all.  There  were  practically  no  shops  or 
laboratories;  no  water  works,  sewerage,  public  hall,  infirmary,  laun- 
dry, or  adequate  lighting  system.  The  small  campus  of  about  ten 
acres  in  front  of  the  buildings  was  used  as  a  hay  meadow  and  there 
were  scarcely  any  walks  or  driveways. 

Not  a  dollar  of  income  was  allowed  by  the  State,  not  even  for  in- 
surance or  repairs,  the  scanty  income  being  wholly  derived  from  the 
Federal  grant.  During  Dr.  McBryde's  sixteen  years  of  administration 
special  appropriations  were  secured  from  the  State  amounting  to 
$332,750,  in  addition  to  the  annual  sums  allowed  for  insurance,  re- 
pairs and  maintenance. 

To  show  for  this  sum,  eight  separate  purchases  of  land,  between 
sixty  and  seventy  acres  in  all,  were  made,  27  industrial  plants  and 
other  similar  improvements  were  established,  6  old  buildings  were 
renovated,  67  new  buildings  (25  brick,  4  stone,  5  iron,  33  wooden)  were 
erected,  26  laboratories,  25  lecture-rooms,  18  offices,  9  halls,  etc.,  fitted 
up  and  equipped — 186  improvements  in  all — the  campus  was  extended 
to  about  75  acres,  2,000  ornamental  trees  were  set  out,  and  several 
miles  of  cinder  walks,  avenues  and  drives  were  made.  Many  small 
buildings  and  improvements  are  not  herein  included.  In  addition,  a 
handsome  stone  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building  was  erected  and  furnished, 
largely  through  the  efforts  of  the  faculty  and  students.     The  attend- 


34 


Virginia    Polytechnic   Institute 


ance  for  the  first  session,  1891-92,  was  only  135;  this  gradually  in- 
creased, reaching  the  maximum  in  1904-05  of  728,  more  than  the 
equipment  of  the  college  could  handle  successfully.  The  first  grad- 
uating class,  of  1892,  numbered  four  men;  in  the  closing  years  of  Dr. 
McBryde's  administration  the  graduating  class  averaged  upwards  of 
80,  and  in  the  last  year  the  teachers  numbered  56  and  other  officers 
21.  The  Virginia  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College  had  become 
the  Virginia  Polytechnic  Institute. 


The  team  that  first  won  from  V.  M.  I.,  at  Lynchburg,  score  6-4. 
colors  were  then  black  and  gray.     1895. 


The 


The   Presidents   of  the  first  thirty-five   years. 


36  Virginia   Polytechnic    Institute 


THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  BARRINGER 

In  July,  1907,  changes  in  the  faculty  took  place  as  follows: 
Resignations:  Professor  Fain  and  Instructors  Moncure,  Vanatter, 
Robeson  and  Jarnigan;  promotions:  from  assistant  professor  to  pro- 
fessor, Messrs.  Saunders,  Conner,  Rasche,  McBryde,  J.  S.  A.  Johnson, 
Newman,  Barlow,  and  Ferguson;  from  assistant  professor  to  adjunct 
professor,  Messrs.  Holden  and  Abbott;  from  instructor  to  associate 
professor,  Mr.  Worthington;  from  instructor  to  assistant  professor, 
Messrs.  Lee  ('96),  Brodie  ('01),  T.  G.  Wood  ('01),  and  Miles  ('01). 
Appointments:  H.  S.  Peyton,  farm  manager;  T.  B.  Hutcheson  ('06), 
instructor  in  agronomy;  E.  B.  Fred  ('07),  instructor  in  mycology;  J. 
M.  Johnson,  instructor  in  foundry.  In  August,  Miss  Ethel  Lacy  was 
made  assistant  librarian,  Dr.  W.  J.  Quick  was  elected  professor  of 
agriculture  and  dean  of  the  agricultural  department;  and  A.  B. 
Spencer  ('05)  was  made  associate  professor  of  animal  husbandry. 

Session  of  1907-08.  Faculty  changes:  resignations:  Professor 
Campbell  as  dean  of  the  academic  department,  to  confine  his  atten- 
tions to  the  department  of  modern  languages;  T.  G.  Wood,  as  assistant 
professor  of  biology  and  assistant  commandant;  Dr.  Meade  Ferguson, 
to  become  state  bacteriologist  at  Richmond;  and  E.  B.  Fred,  instructor 
in  mycology  to  accept  the  position  of  assistant  bacteriologist  at  the 
experiment  station.  Dr.  Barlow  was  made  dean  of  the  graduate  de- 
partment, and  Dr.  S.  W.  Fletcher  was  elected  director  of  the  experi- 
ment station.  Professor  Saunders  accepted  the  position  of  state  food 
and  dairy  commissioner,  retaining,  however,  his  position  as  director 
of  the  V.  P.  I.  creamery.  Dr.  Quick  resigned  as  dean  of  the  agricul- 
tural department  and  Professor  H.  L.  Price  was  appointed  in  his  place. 
Dr.  Fletcher  assumed  his  duties  in  January.  W.  K.  Brainerd  was 
appointed  professor  of  dairying,  and  Lyman  Carrier,  of  agronomy. 
J.  B.  Fogleman  was  appointed  stenographer  to  Dr.  Fletcher,  and 
Robert  C.  Ellett  assistant  to  the  treasurer  and  secretary  of  the  fac- 
ulty, succeeding  Courtney  Williams,  resigned.  Dr.  Howard  C.,Reed 
was  elected  professor  of  plant  pathology  and  pathologist  at  the  exper- 
iment station,  and  Professor  O.  C.  Burkhart  was  elected  to  the  new 
chair  of  mining  engineering.  Dr.  A.  W.  Drinkard  was  made  assistant 
horticulturist  at  the  experiment  station. 

During  the  year  Professor  Randolph  designed  a  "lift  bridge"  for 
the  "Huckleberry"  crossing  at  Merrimac,  over  the  Virginian  Railroad. 
The  bridge  was  designed  in  twenty-four  hours  and  erected  in  seven 
days. 

A  branch  library  was  established  in  the  agricultural  hall,  and  a 
concrete  walk  was  built  from  Barrack  No.  1  to  the  dining  hall,  pass- 
ing in  front  of  Academic  Building  No.  1,  and  replacing  the  old  cinder 
walk.  The  department  of  biology  moved  from  science  hall  to  the  agri- 
cultural building,  its  former  rooms  in  science  hall  being  added  to  those 


Virginia    Polytechnic   Institute 


37 


of  the  physios  department.  A  model  dairy  barn  and  four  smaller 
buildings  for  individual  animals  were  erected  back  of  the  experiment 
barn  and  plats  for  experiments  in  curative  treatment  of  bovine  tuber- 
culosis. 

The  first  basketball  team  of  the  V.  P.  I.  was  formed,  largely 
through  the  activity  o\'  Cadet  Hargrove. 

Governor  Swanson  honored  the  college  with  his  presence  at  Com- 
mencement. 

Attendance  this  session,  546. 


Faculty    row    in    center,    horticultural    building    at    left    and 
buildings  at  right,  1896. 


main 


Session  of  1908-09.  This  session  saw  many  changes.  A  school 
for  apprentices  was  established  along  agricultural  lines,  with  Profes- 
sor G.  W.  Walker  as  head-master.  Entrance  requirements  to  the  col- 
lege were  raised  in  English  and  mathematics.  Spanish  was  substi- 
tuted for  Latin,  of  co-ordinate  value  with  French  and  German,  and 
the  modern  language  course  was  made  a  three-year  course  in  one  lan- 
guage. Mining  engineering  was  established.  The  schedule  was 
changed  to  four  morning  fifty-minute  periods  for  recitations  and  one 
hour  for  military,  with  a  three-hour  practical  laboratory  period  in  the 
afternoon.  The  three  lower  years  were  designed  for  general  academic 
and  fundamental  preparation,  and  the  senior  year  was  devoted  ex- 
clusively to  intensive  specialistic  work.  The  graduate  department 
with  Dr.  Barlow  as  dean  was  made  one  of  the  five  regular  college  de- 
partments. The  executive  council  was  abolished,  its  duties  being  as- 
sumed by  the  president,  commandant,  secretary  of  the  faculty,  and  the 
different  faculty  committees,  of  which  latter  there  were  not  a  few. 
The  battery  organization  was  abolished,  and  the  two  muzzle-loading 
cannon  belonging  to  the  War  Department  of  the  United  States  were 
turned  in,  and  two  new  breech-loading  guns  were  received  in  their 
place. 


38  Virginia   Polytechnic    Institute 

Mr.  J.  Thompson  Brown's  term  of  office  on  the  board  having  ex- 
pired, he  was  not  reappointed  by  the  Governor,  and  Mr.  J.  C.  Car- 
rington  was  elected  rector  of  the  board  of  visitors. 

Mr.  H.  S.  Stahl  ('07)   was  appointed  instructor  in  biology. 

A  graduate  manager  of  athletics  was  elected  to  hold  office  as  long 
as  he  was  satisfactory  to  the  corps.  Also  an  athletic  director,  to  de- 
vote his  entire  time  to  the  development  of  athletics.  Mr.  Miles  was 
elected  graduate  manager,  and  Mr.  R.  M.  Brown,  of  Dartmouth,  di- 
rector. 

A  concrete  esplanade,  sixteen  feet  wide,  was  made,  connecting  the 
barracks  buildings  together  and  joining  to  the  concrete  way  from  Bar- 
rack No.  1  to  the  mess,  and  a  mining  engineering  building  was  erected 
to  the  west  of  science  hall  and  south  of  the  power-plant.  Cold-storage 
rooms  were  added  to  the  mess  hall. 

The  student-body  was  developed  into  a  corps  organization,  the 
honor  system  was  officially  adopted  by  it,  and  student  officers  were 
elected.  A  constitution  and  by-laws  were  also  adopted.  At  a  later 
meeting,  the  corps  voted  to  abolish  hazing  at  V.  P.  I.  after  January, 
1909.  On  January  22,  V.  P.  I.  played  her  first  intercollegiate  basket- 
ball game,  in  Blacksburg,  with  Emory  and  Henry  college,  winning  by 
a  score  of  33-26.     The  game  was  played  in  the  new  stone  auditorium. 

In  March,  1909,  Mr.  Branch  Bocock  was  elected  athletic  coach, 
and  in  April  it  was  decided  to  level  and  improve  the  athletic  field  and 
renovate  the  grand  stand.  The  forgotten  name  of  "Sheib  Field"  was 
superceded  by  that  of  "Miles  Field"  for  the  improved  grounds,  in 
honor  of  Mr.  C.  P.  Miles. 

The  apprentice  course  was  made  a  one-year  course,  designed  for 
young  farmers.  The  board  appropriated  money  for  hydrants  on  each 
floor  of  the  barracks  buildings.  During  the  year  the  ground  in  front 
of  Barrack  No.  1  was  leveled  and  terraced,  and  two  mounted  cannon 
were  placed  on  the  terrace.  Six  arc-lights  were  installed  about  the 
campus,  and  two  concrete  bridges  were  built  over  the  stream  in  front 
of  the  agricultural  hall. 

Attendance  this  session,  565. 

Session  of  1909-10.  Changes  in  the  uniform  of  the  corps  in- 
cluded the  disuse  of  khaki,  and  the  adoption  of  the  gray  "coatee,"  the 
latter  used  for  full  dress. 

Dr.  Hudnall,  who  had  been  seriously  ill,  returned  to  his  duties. 
Captain  W.  R.  Dashiell,  24th  U.  S.  Infantry,  was  detailed  as  com- 
mandant in  place  of  Captain  Jamerson;  and  Dr.  N.  S.  Mayo  succeeded 
Dr.  Spencer,  resigned,  as  professor  of  veterinary  medicine.  Mr.  Mid- 
yett  was  made  instructor  in  modern  languages,  and  Mr.  Reidlich,  of 
Stuttgart,  Germany,  took  charge  as  instructor  in  graphics.  C.  B. 
Walker  ('08)  was  appointed  assistant  in  chemistry  and  in  the  mili- 
tary department. 

Illness  again  forced  Dr.  Hudnall  to  lay  aside  his  duties,  which 
were  performed  in  his  absence  by  the  department  of  rhetoric.  Dean 
Price  and  Dr.  Ellett  attended  the  meeting  of  the  Association  of  Amer- 
ican Colleges  and  Experiment  Stations,  in  Portland,  Oregon. 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute  39 

The  publication  of  "The  Gray  Jacket"  was  discontinued. 

J.  L.  Phillips  resigned  as  state  entomologist,  and  Miss  Mary  Lacy 
as  librarian.  James  M.  Teany,  in  charge  of  forge  and  foundry  work, 
died  on  February  L5,  and  professor  George  W.  Walker  died  at  the  home 
of  his  daughter  near  Asheville,  North  Carolina,  on  March  17.  The 
following  resignations  occurred:  Professor  Worthington,  modern 
language  department;  Professor  Abbott,  English;  and  H.  E.  Allen, 
animal  husbandry.  Messrs.  J.  J.  Davis,  in  modern  languages,  and 
Gudheim,  in  graphics,  were  made  associate  professors. 

V.  P.  I.  won  the  Southern  Championship  in  football,  winning  every 
game  played. 

The  two  academic  buildings  were  each  provided  with  a  steam- 
heating  system,  and  entrances  were  made  on  their  western  sides,  with 
concrete  steps,  for  easier  access  to  and  from  the  barracks.  A  new 
reservoir  was  built  for  the  water  supply  at  the  big  spring;  shower- 
baths  were  installed  in  the  basement  of  Barrack  No.  2,  and  a  new  lab- 
oratory for  the  engineering  department  was  arranged  in  the  basement 
of  Academic  Building  No.  1. 

Attendance  this  session,  509. 

Session  of  1910-11.  The  board  of  visitors  elected  as  rector,  Mr. 
L.  E.  Johnson,  president  of  the  Norfolk  and  Western  Railroad,  who 
had  been  appointed  a  member  of  the  board. 

The  school  of  agricultural  apprentices  was  changed  from  a  pre- 
paratory course  for  the  freshman  year  to  a  purely  one-year  course 
for  farmers. 

The  following  appointments  were  made:  Dr.  E.  A.  Back,  state 
entomologist  and  entomologist  at  the  experiment  station;  H.  M. 
Arnold,  associate  professor  of  rhetoric;  E.  W.  Lawson,  associate  pro- 
fessor of  animal  husbandry;  and  as  instructors:  Messrs.  Smithey, 
modern  languages;  McCown,  rhetoric;  Robeson,  mathematics  and  ex- 
perimental engineering;  Coleman,  electrical  engineering,  and  Angel, 
physics.  Miss  Ethel  Lacy  was  appointed  librarian.  Professor  Mid- 
yette  resigned  from  the  modern  language  department;  Colonel  Brodie, 
as  assistant  commandant;  McTier,  as  musical  director,  and  C.  B. 
Walker,  in  physics.  Cadet  M.  C.  Smith  acted  as  band-master  for  the 
session.  Mr.  A.  W.  Drinkard,  Jr.,  was  granted  a  two-years'  leave  of 
absence  to  pursue  advanced  work  in  horticulture  at  Cornell,  looking 
toward  his  doctorate,  and  Mr.  G.  C.  Starcher  was  appointed  to  serve 
during  his  absence. 

A  cement  walk  was  laid,  connecting  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  with  the  stone 
steps  between  Barracks  3  and  5. 

The  first  number  of  "The  Skirmisher"  appeared,  being  the  old 
"Gray  Jacket"  in  another  form  and  under  a  new  name. 

On  November  23,  the  corps,  en  route  for  Norfolk,  stopped  over  in 
Richmond  and  the  battalion  was  reviewed  by  President  Taft.  In  the 
afternoon,  the  corps  escorted  the  president  to  the  auditorium.  In  De- 
cember, V.  P.  I.  sent  a  delegation  of  students  to  the  International 
Stock  Show  in  Chicago,  being  the  only  Southern  college  represented. 
On  January  31,  1911,  700  representative  farmers,  in  attendance  at  the 


40  Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 

state  institute  in  Roanoke,  visited  V.  P.  I.  They  were  escorted  over 
the  grounds  and  were  addressed  by  President  Barringer  and  Governor 
Mann. 

The  farmers'  short  course  was  held  from  January  16  to  February 
11. 

Mr.  Bocock  resigned  as  athletic  director  to  accept  a  position  at 
the  University  of  North  Carolina,  and  Mr.  L.  W.  Reiss  was  chosen  in 
his  place.  The  basketball  championship  was  won  by  the  Tech  team  of 
1911. 

The  tailor-shop  was  moved  from  its  old  quarters  over  the  laundry 
to  the  room  over  the  board  rooms  in  the  wing  of  the  auditorium,  where 
it  now  is. 

After  a  lapse  of  several  years,  the  Lee  and  Maury  Societies  were 
revived,  and  interest  was  developed  in  their  exercises.  Mr.  0.  R.  Ma- 
gill  succeeded  Mr.  Wear  as  secretary  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  was  a 
most  successful  and  popular  secretary,  doing  excellent  work. 

Stoops  were  built  in  front  of  Barracks  4  and  5  and  concrete  walks 
were  laid  connecting  them  with  science  hall  and  the  academic  build- 
ings. 

Lieutenant  J.  F.  Ware  ('02),  of  the  16th  U.  S.  Infantry,  an  "All 
South"  end  in  his  football  days,  was  appointed  commandant,  succeed- 
ing Major  Dashiell. 

Attendance  this  session,  471. 

Session  of  1911-12.  Improvements  in  the  course  of  electrical 
engineering  were  put  into  effect  this  session.  There  were  also  offered 
degree  courses  in  chemical  and  agricultural  engineering,  and  a  de- 
partment was  established  in  forestry,  irrigation,  and  drainage,  the 
course  therein  leading  to  a  degree;  and  the  entrance  requirements  to 
the  freshman  class  were  raised  to  fourteen  units. 

Appointments:  C.  B.  Walker  and  G.  B.  Bright,  assistant  com- 
mandants; C.  B.  Walker  and  J.  B.  Lucas,  assistants  in  chemistry;  D. 
P.  Clemmer,  instructor  in  graphics;  Ashe  Lockart,  assistant  in  animal 
husbandry;  Messrs.  MacKan  and  Chilton,  assistants  in  physics;  and 
Mr.  J.  P.  Harvey  was  again  made  leader  of  the  band  and  clerk  to  the 
superintendent  of  buildings  and  grounds.  The  following  resigned: 
Instructors  Mallory,  Moorefield,  Angell,  Reidlich,  Ayre  and  Coleman; 
and  Miss  Neilson,  executive  clerk. 

In  February,  Mr.  John  H.  Shultz  resigned  as  mess  steward  after 
fourteen  years  of  satisfactory  service,  and  Mr.  Julius  Shultz  finished 
out  the  session  as  acting  steward  until  the  election  of  Mr.  Bierne  Elli- 
son in  June,  when  Mr.  Julius  Shultz  took  charge  of  the  college  book 
store. 

On  February  21,  the  Maury  Society  won  the  loving-cup  recently 
presented  by  Professor  A.  W.  Drinkard,  which  was  to  be  contended 
for  in  debate  each  year  on  the  same  date  by  the  Maury  and  Lee  So- 
cieties. 

In  June,  Colonel  Brodie  sailed  for  Scotland,  and  Dr.  Mayo  for 
Panama,  on  a  holiday  excursion.  Dr.  Back  resigned  as  entomologist 
in  July,  to  take  up  work  for  the  Government  in  Hawaii.  Mr.  Branch 
Bocock  was  elected  to  return  next  session  as  athletic  coach. 


Virginia    Polytechnic   Institute 


41 


A  now  road  was  graded  from  the  alumni  gate  to  the  First  Aca- 
demic- Building,  the  hill  by  the  infirmary  being-  cut  down  to  a  better 
uradt.'.  The  town  and  college  rejoiced  at  the  erection  of  a  new  and 
modern  railroad  depot,  to  replace  the  old  shack  that  had  served  up  to 
this  time.  The  town  also  put  in  a  water  and  sewerage  system,  being- 
part  of  the  college  system. 

Attendance  this  session,  463. 

At  the  July  meeting  of  the  board,  Dr.  Barringer  tendered  his  res- 
ignation as  president.  This  was  accepted,  but  he  consented  to  serve 
until  July,  1913. 


Athletic  field  in  1896,  showing  a  field  day  event.  There  was  no  track 
and  the  ground  was  very  rough.  At  the  right  is  shown  the  residence 
then    occupied   by    Prof.    Campbell,    later    removed    for    the    Library 

Building. 


Session  of  1912-13.  Dr.  Reed  and  Mr.  F.  L.  Robeson  were 
granted  a  year's  leave  of  absence  for  further  study.  Resignations : 
Dr.  Frank  Wilson,  professor  of  chemistry;  Colonel  R.  A.  Marr,  pro- 
fessor of  civil  engineering  and  dean  of  the  engineering  department;  F. 
S.  Holmes,  assistant  commandant  and  instructor  in  horticulture;  J.  S. 
Cooley,  plant  pathologist. 

By  action  of  the  board  of  control  of  the  experiment  station,  the 
director  had  been  allowed  to  grant  leaves  of  absence  for  further  study 
to  promising  young  men  on  the  station  staff.  Dr.  Drinkard  had  al- 
ready availed  himself  of  this  privilege,  and  had  returned  to  V.  P.  I. 
after  gaining  his  doctorate  at  Cornell.  Mr.  E.  B.  Fred  was  granted 
this  leave  and  spent  two  years  in  Germany,  returning  with  improved 
ability  and  enthusiasm  to  his  work  in  soil  bacteriology.  Now  Mr.  T. 
B.  Hutcheson  was  given  a  leave  for  further  study.  In  this  way,  the 
station  aimed  to  build  up  a  strong  research  staff.     In  Mr.  Hutcheson's 


42 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 


absence,  Mr.  A.  N.  Hodgson  was  appointed  assistant  agronomist,  and 
Mr.  C.  H.  Crabill  in  plant  pathology. 

The  Southern  Railway  established  a  scholarship  amounting  to 
$250  each  year  for  four  years,  the  beneficiary  being  required  to  prom- 
ise that  for  at  least  three  years  after  the  end  of  his  scholarship  he 
would  farm  in  territory  contiguous  to  a  line  of  the  Southern  Railroad 
system,  or  to  teach  agriculture,  or  work  on  an  experiment  farm  in 
some  state  traversed  by  lines  of  the  Southern  system.  Mr.  T.  P.  Hill 
was  the  first  beneficiary  selected  from  among  thirty-five  applicants. 

Following  Colonel  Marr's  resignation,  Professor  0.  C.  Burkhart 
was  temporarily  put  in  charge  of  civil  engineering. 


The  first  field  team,  1896. 


In  November,  a  special  course  was  held  for  dairymen. 

Mr.  H.  N.  Faulkner,  assistant  in  mechanic  arts,  died  in  Decem- 
ber. 

In  January,  two  wireless  stations  were  installed  on  the  campus, 
on  top  of  science  hall  and  agricultural  hall.  The  county  demonstra- 
tors, forty-eight  in  number,  spent  six  weeks  at  V.  P.  I.  during  Jan- 
uary and  February,  taking  a  course  in  practical  farming,  and  also 
the  usual  four-weeks  farmers'  winter  course  with  the  30  other  men 
enrolled  in  that  course. 

On  February  1  the  debt  of  $2,500  against  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  was 
paid.  Mr.  C.  P.  Miles  acted  as  coach  for  the  baseball  team  this  spring. 
A  new  dance  club,  "The  Cotillion,"  was  organized  among  the  students. 
This  spring  saw  the  demise  of  "The  Skirmisher"  which  had  fought, 
against  odds,  to  be  the  successor  of  the  defunct  "Gray  Jacket." 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute  43 

The  college  again  sustained  a  most  serious  loss  by  fire  in  the  early 
hours  of  Saturday  morning,  June  14,  during  the  Commencement  fes- 
tivities, by  the  burning:  of  the  machine  shop.  The  machinery,  tools, 
etc.,  and  the  building  itself  were  destroyed.  During  the  summer 
arrangements  were  made  to  use  the  old  pavilion  as  a  shop  until  further 
provision  could  be  made.  The  infirmary  was  renovated,  the  sick  wards 
modernized,  and  a  modern  heating;  system  installed  in  the  excavated 
basement. 

At  this  time  Mr.  L.  E.  Johnson  retired  from  the  board  of  visitors, 
and  Mr.  J.  Thompson  Brown  was  again  elected  rector,  he  having  been 
reappointed  to  the  board  by  the  Governor. 

At  the  July  meeting  of  the  board,  Mr.  R.  B.  H.  Begg  ('99)  was 
elected  to  the  chair  of  civil  engineering;  Dr.  W.  G.  Chrisman  ('01)  to 
that  of  animal  husbandry  and  veterinary  science,  and  Dr.  J.  W.  Wat- 
son to  that  of  inorganic  chemistry.  Resignations:  Dr.  N.  S.  Mayo, 
professor  of  animal  husbandry  and  veterinary  science;  Ashe  Lockart, 
instructor  in  animal  husbandry;  T.  B.  Hutcheson,  agronomy;  also  In- 
structors R.  H.  Chilton  and  Chappelear,  and  Assistants  MacKan, 
Taylor,  McCabe,  and  C.  H.  Chilton. 

Attendance  this  session,  471. 

On  July  1,  Mr.  Joseph  D.  Eggleston,  for  some  time  a  member  of 
the  board  as  state  superintendent  of  public  instruction,  entered  upon 
his  duties  as  president  of  the  V.  P.  I. 


In  review  of  Dr.  Barringer's  services  to  V.  P.  I.,  it  may  be  noted 
that  when  he  took  office  in  1907  the  entrance  requirements  were  four 
units,  and  they  were  gradually  raised  during  his  term  of  service,  until 
in  1912  they  were  fourteen  units  for  the  session  of  1914-15.  Agricul- 
ture was  emphasized  by  the  strengthening  of  the  teaching  staff,  the 
addition  of  a  professor  of  mycology,  a  degree  course  in  agricultural 
engineering,  and  a  department  of  forestry,  irrigation  and  drainage; 
the  farmers'  winter  course,  established  in  1907,  was  maintained  and 
strengthened;  and  the  school  of  agricultural  apprentices  was  estab- 
lished and  developed  into  a  two-year  practical  course  in  agriculture. 
Numerous  improvements  were  made  which  promoted  and  increased 
the  comfort  and  conveniences  of  the  students  and  improved  their  san- 
itary environment.  The  source  of  the  college  water  supply  was  safe- 
guarded by  appropriate  masonry.  The  danger  of  a  typhoid  epidemic 
in  Blacksburg  was  reduced  by  extending  to  the  town  the  college  water 
and  sewerage  lines.  Water  was  supplied  to  the  barracks  buildings ; 
concrete  walks  replaced  the  old  cinder  paths  on  routes  most  used  by 
the  students.  When  Dr.  Barringer  became  president,  the  Legislature 
appropriated  $30,000  to  cover  a  deficit  then  existing,  and  from  that 
time  to  the  close  of  Dr.  Barringer's  administration,  the  institute  was 
maintained  free  from  debt,  except  the  bond  issues  of  1896  and  1900. 


44  Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 


THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  EGGLESTON 

Session  of  1913-14.  The  Ed.  Black  property  of  some  60  acres  to 
the  south  and  east  of  the  college,  was  acquired  for  college  use.  This 
property,  although  it  has  not  been  paid  for,  has  greatly  increased  in 
value.  New  shop  machinery  was  bought  and  installed  in  temporary 
quarters,  the  old  pavilion  being  used  as  the  main  building. 

Appointments:  T.  P.  Campbell,  dean  of  the  faculty;  L.  S.  Ran- 
dolph, dean  of  the  engineering  department;  W.  K.  Brainerd,  professor 
of  dairy  and  animal  husbandry;  F.  L.  Robeson,  associate  professor  of 
physics;  E.  R.  Hodgson,  associate  professor  of  agronomy;  L.  W.  Sum- 
mers, associate  professor  of  animal  husbandry  (resigned  December, 
1913,  and  R.  E.  Hunt  elected  in  his  place)  ;  W.  J.  Schoene,  state  ento- 
mologist; and  the  following  assistants:  W.  J.  Barbour,  forge  work; 
F.  T.  Wall,  geology;  H.  H.  Bates,  experimental  engineering  and  as- 
sistant commandant;  E.  H.  Knox,  physics;  J.  M.  Trimble,  physics;  J. 
B.  Lucas,  physics  and  chemistry.  Promotions  from  instructor  to  asso- 
ciate professor:  G.  B.  Bright,  civil  engineering;  C.  W.  Holdaway, 
dairying.     Dr.  Reed  returned  from  Europe,  after  a  year's  leave. 

Two  new  county  experiment  stations  were  established,  one  at 
Martinsville  and  one  at  Charlotte  Court  House,  the  state  department 
of  agriculture  having  appropriated  $7,500  for  these  and  for  the  sta- 
tion at  Staunton. 

The  first  agricultural  fair  held  at  Blacksburg  was  in  October  of 
this  year  and  was  well  attended.  The  defunct  "Gray  Jacket,"  later 
"The  Skirmisher,"  was  resuscitated  under  the  name  of  "The  Firing 
Line;"  and  the  Monogram  Club  was  formed,  consisting  of  all  students 
winning  their  letters  in  any  form  of  athletics.  During  this  session, 
two-thirds  of  the  enrolled  students  were  members  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A., 
with  Mr.  R.  W.  Owens  as  secretary.  The  Maury  Society  won  the  lov- 
ing-cup in  annual  debate  from  the  Lee  Society.  The  world's  record 
in  butter  production  was  broken  by  a  Holstein  cow  of  the  V.  P.  I.  dairy 
herd.  The  farmers'  winter  course  was  attended  by  about  double  the 
number  of  the  previous  year.  At  a  meeting  of  the  corps  in  March,  it 
was  decided  to  build  the  long  needed  athletic  house  on  the  athletic 
field,  and  work  thereon  was  begun  immediately. 

In  April,  Dr.  S.  W.  Fletcher  handed  in  his  resignation  as  director 
of  the  experiment  station,  to  take  effect  July  1,  1914. 

The  new  Alumni  Gate  was  dedicated  on  June  16.  The  gate  was 
presented  as  the  gift  of  the  alumni  by  Mr.  Allen  Eskridge  ('94)  and 
President  Eggleston  received  it  on  behalf  of  the  college.  During  finals 
also,  the  corner-stone  was  laid  for  the  new  stone  shops  building,  to  be 
known  as  "The  McBryde  Building."  Appropriate  masonic  ceremonies 
were  observed.  During  the  summer,  the  stone  building,  which  had 
been  erected  as  a  chapel  and  auditorium,  and  which  had  also  been  used 
for  the  basketball  games,  was  fitted  up  as  the  library,  which  was  now 
moved  from  its  old  place  in  the  Second  Academic  Building. 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institi  ii:  45 

Annum  other  provisions  of  the  Legislature  money  was  provided 
for  a  septic  tank,  to  replace  the  obsolete  one  hitherto  in  use.  An  im- 
portant event  was  the  transfer  by  the  Legislature  of  the  demonstra- 
tion work  in  Virginia  to  the  control  of  the  V.  P.  I.,  thus  making 
Blaeksburg  the  center  for  the  direction  of  county  agents,  with  control 
of  the  funds  for  carrying  on  the  work.  Sixty  of  the  demonstrators 
spent  three  weeks  in  January  at  the  college,  taking  the  special  course 
in  agriculture.  This  was  made  a  permanent  feature  of  the  demon- 
stration work. 

Attendance  this  session,  527. 

Session  of  1914-15.  Lieutenant  S.  W.  Anding  was  detailed  by 
the  War  Department  as  commandant,  succeeding  Lieutenant  Ware; 
and  Professor  W.  J.  Schoene  was  appointed  acting  director  of  the  ex- 
periment station.  Mr.  J.  P.  Harvey,  musical  director,  being  incapaci- 
tated by  sickness,  Mr.  H.  H.  Hill  took  charge  of  the  band  this  session 
and  served  for  eighteen  months.  Other  appointments  were :  A.  S. 
Jewett,  instructor  in  rhetoric;  D.  S.  Lancaster,  modern  languages;  V. 
E.  Ayres,  mathematics  and  assistant  commandant;  T.  K.  Wolfe, 
agronomy  and  assistant  commandant;  E.  A.  Livesay,  third  assistant 
commandant;  L.  B.  Bransford  and  A.  B.  Carrington,  physics;  F.  T. 
Wall  and  H.  L.  Jennings,  chemistry;  C.  W.  MacKan,  civil  engineering; 
G.  S.  Ralston,  horticulture  at  the  experiment  station;  John  R.  Hutche- 
son,  livestock  specialist  with  the  demonstration  work;  C.  H.  Hays, 
specialist  in  hog  cholera,  with  the  demonstration  work;  W.  D.  Saun- 
ders, professor  of  animal  and  dairy  husbandry  and  farm  superintend- 
ent; and  T.  B.  Hutcheson,  professor  of  agronomy.  H.  S.  Stahl  was 
promoted  from  assistant  professor  to  associate  professor  of  biology. 
Resignations:  Lyman  Carrier,  agronomy;  W.  K.  Brainerd,  animal 
husbandry;  A.  S.  McGown,  instructor  in  rhetoric,  and  L.  P.  Smithers, 
modern  languages. 

A  Science  Club  was  organized  to  stimulate  interest  in  the  various 
scientific  fields,  and  to  increase  a  sympathetic  and  broadening  interest 
in  the  various  lines  of  scientific  work.  Dr.  Barlow  was  the  first  pres- 
ident of  the  club,  which  met  twice  a  month.  The  board  of  trade  of 
Blacksburg,  which  had  been  recently  formed  through  the  activities  of 
Dr.  Fletcher  and  Professor  Carrier,  elected  President  Eggleston  as 
its  chairman  for  the  ensuing  year. 

The  Christmas  holidays  saw  the  completion  of  the  new  field  house, 
which  was  formally  opened  on  January  27,  1915,  and  officially  turned 
over  to  the  athletic  association  with  appropriate  ceremonies. 

During  the  latter  part  of  January,  Mr.  Robert  T.  Ellett  resigned 
as  assistant  treasurer  and  registrar,  to  take  charge  of  the  Ellett  Drug 
Company,  and  Mr.  Branch  Bocock  was  appointed  acting  registrar. 

The  American  Institute  of  Electrical  Engineers  authorized  the 
formation  of  a  student  branch  at  the  V.  P.  I.  In  March,  President 
Eggleston  was  elected  by  the  Legislature  a  member  of  the  state  board 
of  education,  but  soon  after  resigned. 

A  women's  auxiliary  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  was  formed,  and  this  did 
much  toward  improving  conditions  in  the  building.     The  steadily  in- 


46 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 


creasing  football  squad  made  it  necessary  to  employ  two  coaches,  one 
for  the  line,  and  one  for  the  back  field.  Again,  the  basketball  team 
made  a  clean  record,  winning  every  game  played  during  the  season. 

During  the  summer,  Messrs.  Bruce  Williams  and  C.  H.  Crabill 
resigned  from  the  department  of  bacteriology,  and  Mr.  J.  T.  Murray, 
of  New  York,  was  given  direct  charge  of  the  bacteriological  work  of 
the  experiment  station,  with  Mr.  Karl  Quantz,  an  alumnus,  as  assist- 
ant plant  pathologist.     Mr.  Harris  resigned  as  assistant  chemist  at 


From  the  tower  of  the  old  shops  building,  1897. 

the  station  to  accept  a  position  in  the  Argentine,  and  Mr.  J.  T.  Gris- 
som  was  appointed  in  his  place.  At  the  July  meeting  of  the  board 
authority  was  given  to  re-establish  the  general  science  course,  which 
had  been  abolished  in  Dr.  Barringer's  regime;  and  Dr.  Newman  was 
appointed  dean  of  the  academic  department.  Dr.  Howard  S.  Reed 
resigned  in  August  to  become  plant  pathologist  at  the  citrus  experi- 
ment station  at  Riverside,  California,  and  Dr.  F.  D.  Fromme  suc- 
ceeded him. 

Attendance  this  session,  490. 

Session  of  1915-16.  Professor  J.  J.  Davis  was  granted  a  leave 
of  absence  to  take  graduate  work  at  Johns  Hopkins.  Mr.  T.  P.  Camp- 
bell, Jr.,  a  V.  P.  I.  alumnus  of  1909,  was  appointed  registrar. 

The  freshman  class  this  session  was  the  largest  in  seven  years. 

Mr.  R.  E.  Denny  was  appointed  general  secretary  of  the  Y.  M.  C. 
A.  The  following  appointments  were  made:  instructors:  M.  C.  Har- 
rison, rhetoric;  E.  S.  Cardozo  and  H.  P.  Sanborn,  modern  languages; 
assistants:    P.    A.    Pearsall,    chemistry;    I.    Udy,    experimental    engi- 


Virginia   Polytechnic   Institute  47 

neering;  F.  A.  Heacock,  graphics;  H.  E.  Thomas,  plant  pathology;  A. 
Chinn,  civil  engineering;  A.  A.  Ingham,  horticulture;  and  Milton 
Cutherell,  assistant  to  the  treasurer  and  college  book  store  keeper. 
P.  V.  Janutolo  was  promoted  to  be  an  instructor  in  chemistry;  Brans- 
ford,  in  physics;  Lancaster,  in  animal  husbandry,  and  Wolfe,  in 
agronomy. 

The  col  logo  sustained  a  great  loss  in  the  sudden  death  of  Profes- 
sor R.  J.  Davidson  on  the  morning  of  Sunday,  December  19,  1915. 
Professor  Davidson  had  been  connected  with  the  college  as  professor 
of  chemistry  since  July,  1891,  having  completed  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
century  of  service.  Professor  W.  B.  Ellett  was  appointed  to  carry  on 
the  work  in  agricultural  chemistry. 

In  the  November  bulletin  of  the  college  was  published  a  partial 
list  giving  the  names  of  forty-four  V.  P.  I.  men  then  in  service  on  the 
Mexican  border,  showing  the  aid  given  by  alumni  in  defense  of  their 
country. 

Mr.  B.  Ellison  resigned  as  mess  steward  to  accept  a  position  as 
manager  of  the  Blue  Ridge  Springs. 

Through  the  energy  of  the  registrar,  Mr.  T.  P.  Campbell,  Jr.,  an 
efficient  employment  bureau  was  established  under  his  care,  to  place 
V.  P.  I.  men  in  more  advantageous  positions  and  to  secure  good  posi- 
tions for  those  desiring  such. 

At  the  April  meeting,  the  board  elected  Dr.  A.  W.  Drinkard  as 
director  of  the  experiment  station,  thus  relieving  Professor  Schoene, 
who  had  been  acting  director  for  the  past  two  years  in  addition  to  his 
duties  as  state  entomologist.  Mr.  Jesse  M.  Jones  was  appointed  di- 
rector of  the  demonstration  and  extension  work.  Mr.  H.  H.  Hill  was 
obliged  to  give  up  the  leadership  of  the  band,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Mr.  P.  U.  Janutolo. 

During  the  spring  the  senior  class  built  a  concrete  walk  from  the 
academic  buildings  to  the  library,  the  students  themselves  doing  the 
work,  with  material  furnished  by  the  college.  The  rooms  formerly 
used  by  the  board,  and  later  as  a  residence  by  Dr.  Fletcher  and  family, 
in  the  wing  of  the  library,  were  fitted  up  as  living-rooms  and  office 
for  the  librarian. 

On  Sunday,  June  11,  Dr.  R.  H.  Hudnall,  after  a  long  illness,  died 
at  his  home  on  the  campus.  As  a  result  of  this,  the  department  of 
English  and  rhetoric  were  consolidated,  with  Dr.  C.  M.  Newman  as 
head. 

Governor  Mann  delivered  the  graduating  address  to  the  class  of 
1916,  his  subject  being  "Preparedness."  Four  hundred  attended  the 
final  exercises,  and  at  the  alumni  meeting  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  consider  the  question  of  the  erection  of  an  alumni  club  house  on  the 
campus. 

The  General  Assembly,  having  placed  all  the  demonstration  and 
extension  work  in  agriculture  and  home  economics  in  Virginia  under 
the  control  of  the  V.  P.  I.,  Miss  Ella  G.  Agnew,  chief  of  the  women 
demonstration  agents  in  Virginia  and  director  of  the  girls'  canning 
clubs,  was,  on  July  1,  transferred  from  Burkeville  to  Blacksburg. 


48  Virginia   Polytechnic   Institute 

On  July  3,  more  than  eighty  V.  P.  I.  students  reported  for  duty  at 
the  R.  O.  T.  C.  at  Camp  Lee,  Virginia.  Lieutenant  S.  W.  Anding, 
commandant,  was  promoted  to  a  captaincy  in  the  army. 

A  notable  feature  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  work  during  the  session  was 
a  social  service  bureau,  through  which  forty-seven  or  more  students 
conducted  an  active  campaign  of  religious  work  in  the  country  dis- 
tricts and  nearby  mountains. 

Mr.  J.  T.  Grissom  resigned  in  August  as  assistant  station  chemist. 

During  the  session,  Professor  Vawter  and  the  senior  engineers 
installed  an  aerial  and  receiving  wireless  station,  by  which  the  weather 
reports  and  Arlington  time  were  received. 

Attendance  this  session,  505. 

Session  of  1916-17.  During  September  the  board  refused  per- 
mission for  the  establishment  of  fraternities  or  secret  organizations 
at  V.  P.  I.  It  also  approved  a  course  in  applied  physics,  which  had 
been  recommended  by  the  faculty.  At  the  opening  of  the  session, 
there  were  six  county  experiment  stations  conducted  by  V.  P.  I.,  and 
three  by  the  college  and  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture  jointly.  For 
the  first  time  in  history,  the  college  and  town  enjoyed  the  benefit  of  a 
Western  Union  Telegraph  station,  with  office  on  the  campus,  in  the 
field  house. 

Appointments:  as  instructors:  W.  E.  Bowers,  agronomy;  C.  L. 
Estill  and  T.  C.  Johnson,  English;  J.  B.  Lucas,  chemistry;  E.  R.  Mc- 
Kesson, mathematics  and  assistant  commandant;  C.  R.  Moore  and  P. 
H.  Trout,  physics;  as  assistants:  W.  B.  Ellis,  experimental  engineer- 
ing; T.  J.  Wells,  electrical  engineering;  E.  B.  Burwell,  geology,  and  C. 
B.  Whitney,  chemistry.  The  following  instructors  resigned:  A.  S. 
Jewett,  V.  E.  Ayre,  L.  B.  Bransford,  E.  S.  Cardozo,  and  P.  U.  Janu- 
tolo.  Mr.  W.  C.  Stiles  was  promoted  to  an  instructorship  in  animal 
husbandry,  and  H.  E.  Thomas,  plant  pathology  and  bacteriology. 
Professor  Robeson  was  granted  a  leave  of  absence  to  study  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Missouri.  Professor  Davis  returned  to  his  work  after  a 
year  at  Johns  Hopkins.  Mr.  Quantz  was  transferred  from  the  depart- 
ment of  pathology  to  that  of  horticulture.  In  December,  Professor 
Smyth  was  appointed  dean  of  the  department  of  applied  sciences, 
succeeding  Professor  Davidson.  Mr.  Quantz,  Professor  Starcher  and 
Dr.  Smulyan  resigned. 

On  January  5,  1917,  a  unit  of  the  R.  O.  T.  C.  was  established. 
Juniors  and  seniors  were  allowed  the  privilege  of  taking  this,  but 
sophomores  and  freshmen  were  required  to  take  the  work.  Men  from 
the  two  higher  classes  entering  the  training  corps  were  paid  $9.00 
per  month  and  all  classes  had  uniforms  issued  them  for  drills  when 
training.  Captain  C.  C.  Carson  and  Sergeant  Fisher  were  detailed  to 
assist  Captain  S.  W.  Anding  in  the  R.  0.  T.  C.  duties.  It  was  a  period 
of  unusual  activity  in  the  military  department.  A  large  number  of 
applicants,  largely  from  the  ranks  of  the  alumni,  presented  themselves 
to  Captain  Anding  for  examination  for  commissions.  To  assist  in  the 
increasing  importance  of  matters  military,  the  War  Department  de- 
tailed  in   March    Sergeant   Bresnahan,  who  was   considered   the  best 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute  49 

drill  Bergeant  in  the  army.  On  March  28,  Captain  Anding's  term 
having  expired,  he  was  ordered  for  duty  to  Arizona,  Captain  Carson 
succeeding  him  as  commandant. 

In  January,  Dr.  Barlow  moved  into  his  new  house,  and  the  old 
horticultural  building  which  had  been  fitted  for  a  residence  for  him, 
was  turned  over  to  the  extension  division  as  headquarters.  Mr.  C.  G. 
Burr,  state  agent  for  boys'  club  work,  established  his  headquarters  at 
Blacksburg. 

On  March  3,  the  corps  went  to  Washington  to  take  part  in  the  in- 
augural ceremonies  of  President  Wilson.  The  appearance  of  the 
cadets  and  their  bearing  in  the  parade  won  for  them  most  favorable 
comment  from  the  highest  sources. 

Mr.  Bowers  offered  a  course  in  agricultural  journalism  during 
the  third  term,  the  first  ever  given  here. 

The  calls  for  service  abroad  in  the  World  War  becoming  more  and 
more  urgent,  responses  began  to  draw  upon  the  personnel  of  faculty 
and  corps  alike.  Early  in  May  Professor  Begg  received  his  commis- 
sion as  captain  of  engineers  and  left  for  Fort  Myer.  From  the  corps, 
64  men  left  for  the  officers'  training  camp  at  Fort  Myer. 

In  spite  of  strenuous  military  training,  athletics  were  not 
neglected,  and  on  May  12  the  Virginia  Athletic  Association  held  its 
meeting  on  Miles  field,  and  V.  P.  I.  won  first  place  in  the  events. 

The  war  call  was  being  answered  now  so  freely  by  the  corps, 
especially  by  members  of  the  senior  class,  that  it  was  considered  ad- 
visable to  bring  the  session  to  an  early  close,  and  so  on  May  31  the 
session  came  to  an  end,  the  usual  Commencement  events  being  omitted, 
including  the  big  alumni  reunion  which  had  been  expected. 

Attendance  this  session,  533. 

During  the  summer  school  Captain  H.  E.  Keller  ('17)  continued 
the  valuable  work  of  military  training  to  all  men  on  the  grounds. 

Mr.  A.  A.  Ingham,  assistant  horticulturist,  died  suddenly  in  his 
room  on  June  13.  E.  R.  Hodgson  resigned  to  become  specialist  in 
agronomy  with  the  extension  division.  G.  S.  Ralston,  of  the  extension 
division,  was  appointed  field  horticulturist.  During  the  summer 
Major  Carson  sailed  for  active  field  duty  in  France. 

On  August  3,  C.  B.  Lambert  ('14),  on  service  in  the  aviation 
camp,  while  flying  with  an  English  instructor  near  Wheeling,  West 
Virginia,  fell  to  his  death.  He  was  the  first  V.  P.  I.  boy  to  give  his 
life  for  his  country  in  the  home  field. 

The  State  Farmers'  Institute  was  held  here  on  August  15. 

The  new  shops  building,  constructed  under  the  supervision  of 
Mr.  D.  0.  Matthews,  and  dedicated  to  Dr.  McBryde,  was  first  used  for 
work  in  August.  The  simple  but  impressive  modified  Gothic  front, 
with  its  sixty-foot  tower,  guards  the  main  entrance  to  the  shop,  which 
extends  231  feet  in  depth  and  210  feet  in  width.  The  several  shop 
departments  are  separated  by  curtains  of  brick  work,  each  department 
having  its  offices  and  supply  rooms. 

It  is  difficult  to  condense  the  facts  which  now  brought  V.  P.  I.  to 
the  front  and  vindicated  her  right  to  existence  as  a  valuable  asset  in 


50  Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 

time  of  need  to  the  State  and  Nation.  The  following  items  will  briefly 
speak  for  themselves. 

Out  of  99  men  entering  the  first  Fort  Myer  camp,  94  received 
their  commissions.  Each  of  the  26  men  entering  the  regular  army 
school  at  Fort  Leavenworth  was  commissioned.  Of  two  entries  at  the 
first  Plattsburg  camp,  one  man  received  a  majority  and  the  other  a 
captaincy;  and  the  five  men  at  the  first  Oglethorpe  camp  received  their 
commissions. 

Extracts  from  the  August,  1917,  Bulletin: 

"V.  P.  I.'s  military  men  are  distinguished  as  follows:  Fort  Myer 
training  camp,  120;  Virginia  National  Guards,  21;  Regular  Army,  55; 
Engineers  Reserve  Corps,  6;  Aviation  Corps,  4;  Signal  Corps,  2;  U. 
S.  Marine  Corps,  4;  Ambulance  Corps,  2;  Navy,  7;  Mosquito  Fleet,  3; 
Fort  Oglethorpe  training  camp,  8;  Fort  Ben  Harrison  camp,  3;  other 
U.  S.  training  camps,  16;  National  Guards  of  other  States,  2;  Coast 
Guard,  6.  (This  list  is  incomplete,  but  lists  259  men  at  this  date  in 
service.)" 

Session  of  1917-18.  In  spite  of  the  war  conditions,  or  possibly 
on  account  thereof,  this  session  opened  with  199  freshmen.  The  per- 
sonnel of  the  upper  classes  was  changed,  owing  to  the  number  absent 
on  military  duty,  yet  many  new  men  entered  the  upper  classes,  so  that 
the  total  number  of  students  was  not  materially  reduced.  The  regis- 
tration, of  course,  showed  the  effect  of  the  war  call.  The  hitherto 
popular  courses  of  agriculture,  and  electrical  and  mechanical  engineer- 
ing showed  a  loss,  while  civil  and  chemical  engineering  showed  a 
marked  increase.  It  was  notable  also  that  the  number  in  the  R.  O.  T. 
C.  course  had  greatly  increased,  and  students  excused  from  military 
voluntarily  took  up  military  training. 

From  the  Roanoke  Times,  September  20,  1917: 

"Lectures  on  food  production  and  conservation  are  to  be  given  at 
teachers'  institutes  throughout  the  State  this  fall,  thanks  to  the  public 
spirited  and  far-sighted  extension  division  of  the  V.  P.  I.  *  *  *  * 
The  V.  P.  I.  is  making  notable  contributions  to  the  country's  cause  in 
many  ways,  but  the  above  plan  promises  to  take  a  foremost  place  in 
the  list  of  services  rendered  the  Nation  by  the  Blacksburg  institute 
during  the  war.  The  people  of  Virginia  should  be  very  grateful  to 
V.  P.  I.  for  what  it  is  doing  for  them  as  well  as  for  America." 

Throughout  the  fall  of  1916  and  the  summer  of  1917,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  American  Red  Cross,  members  of  the  faculty  attended 
meetings  at  every  precinct  in  Montgomery  county,  making  addresses 
in  behalf  of  war  work,  and  forming  chapters  of  the  Red  Cross.  Dr. 
McBryde,  as  chairman  of  the  Blacksburg  chapter,  was  indefatigable 
in  his  interest  in  the  work,  and  the  ladies  of  the  town  and  facutly 
alike  were  untiring  in  their  devotion  to  the  cause. 

Mr.  John  H.  Shultz,  our  mess  steward,  met  with  a  tragic  death 
on  August  27,  1917.     Mr.  J.  J.  Owens  succeeded  him. 

Appointments  this  session  included:  Major  W.  P.  Stone,  of  the 
U.  S.  army,  retired,  commandant;  E.  R.  McKesson,  instructor  in  civil 
engineering;  E.  W.  Diggs,  graphics;  V.  L.  Vaughn,  physics  and  math- 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 


51 


ematics;  S.  A.  Wingard,  assistant  in  plant  pathology;  S.  C.  Harmon, 
assistant  agronomist ;  W.  G.  Harris,  associate  chemist,  experiment 
station;  F.  S.  Glassett,  assistant  agronomist.  Resignations:  Professors 
C.  E.  Vawter,  P.  II.  Trout,  H.  E.  Thomas,  and  C.  B.  Whitney.  Pro- 
motions: F.  L.  Robeson  to  the  chair  of  physics  and  head  of  this  de- 
partment; C.  P.  Miles  and  J.  J.  Davis  to  full  professorships  in  modern 
Languages;  W.  M.  Brodie  to  a  full  professorship  in  mathematics;  M. 

C.  Harrison  to  an  associate  professorship  in  English;  T.  K.  Wolfe  and 

D.  S.  Lancaster  to  associate  professorships  in  agronomy  and  animal 
husbandry,  respectively.  The  following  members  of  the  faculty  were 
absent  on  military  duty:  R.  B.  H.  Begg,  G.  B.  Bright,  H.  P.  Sanborn, 
W.  C.  Stiles,  C.  B.  Moore,  C.  L.  Estill,  W.  E.  Bowers,  S.  E.  Dietrick, 
G.  G.  Coleman,  E.  B.  Burwell,  A.  P.  Moore,  and  W.  R.  Ellis. 


Blacksburg  in  1897,  from  the  shops  building. 

One  hundred  per  cent  of  V.  P.  I.  men  entering  the  Engineer  Re- 
serve camps  received  commissions. 

During  the  fall,  this  college  was  put  on  the  United  Press  wire, 
insuring  the  transmission  of  athletic  scores  to  all  papers  using  the  ser- 
vice. 

During  the  winter  the  following  changes  occurred:  O.  C.  Cox, 
veterinary  department,  and  T.  J.  Murray,  bacteriologist,  resigned; 
Mr.  A.  B.  Massey  succeeded  Mr.  Murray. 

On  February  21,  Dr.  J.  E.  Williams  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
State  Board  of  Education.  In  March  a  bill  to  allow  V.  P.  I.  to  issue 
bonds  to  the  amount  of  $400,000  passed  the  House,  but  was  defeated 
in  the  Senate. 


O* 


<*&* 


52  Virginia   Polytechnic   Institute 

In  April,  the  college  was  made  a  member  of  the  American  Univer- 
sity Union,  which  had  its  headquarters  in  Paris. 

During  May,  C.  P.  Miles  resigned  as  graduate  manager  of  ath- 
letics, and  C.  A.  Bernier  was  appointed  athletic  director. 

Colonel  George  H.  Jamerson,  an  alumnus  and  former  commandant, 
was  appointed  Brigadier  General. 

Extracts  from  V.  P.  I.  Bulletin  of  May,  1918: 

"V.  P.  I.  has  at  present  2,790  of  its  alumni  under  arms,  more  than 
Yale,  Harvard,  Princeton,  or  any  other  institution  of  like  standing, 
North  or  South;  and  a  prominent  editor  of  Washington  says,  'Inci- 
dentally, it  gives  the  Federal  Government  evidence  that  the  money  it 
has  invested  at  Blacksburg  was  wisely  used  and  will  be  repaid  many 
times  over.'  " 

L.  S.  Randolph,  professor  of  mechanical  engineering  and  dean  of 
the  engineering  department,  handed  in  his  resignation  to  take  effect 
September  1,  1918,  thus  completing  a  quarter  of  a  century  of  service 
here.  At  this  time,  he  was  the  fourth  in  seniority  of  appointment  of 
the  living  members  of  the  faculty. 

Professor  Louis  O'Shaughnessy  was  elected  in  June,  1918,  to  the 
chair  of  civil  engineering,  to  enter  upon  his  duties  at  the  beginning  of 
the  next  session. 

Owing  to  war  conditions,  finals  were  shortened  to  two  days,  May 
26  and  27.  On  the  morning  of  the  27th  Hon.  R.  Holman  Willis  pre- 
sented a  service  flag  to  the  college  on  behalf  of  the  alumni  association. 
The  rector,  J.  Thompson  Brown,  received  the  flag  for  the  college;  and 
Miss  Alice  Hoge  pulled  the  cord  which  unfurled  the  flag  with  its  740 
stars.  Before  the  end  of  the  war  the  flag  contained  1,700  stars,  not  a 
few  of  them  being  gold  stars. 

Attendance  this  session,  519. 

In  March,  the  college  offered  to  take  a  certain  number  of  enlisted 
men  for  instruction  in  the  useful  arts.  Accepting  this  offer,  the  Gov- 
ernment sent  on  May  31  a  detachment  of  220  men.  These  men  were 
quartered  in  Barracks  Nos.  3  and  5.  They  were  under  the  command  of 
Major  John  C.  Skuse,  assisted  by  Lieutenants  Stanrod,  Bell,  and  Tay- 
lor. Later,  a  surgeon,  a  dental  officer,  and  a  quartermaster  were  de- 
tached to  service  here.  The  officers  of  the  college  in  charge  were  Dean 
Campbell,  as  director;  Professor  Parrott,  bench  work  and  carpentry; 
Professor  Conner,  machine  work;  Professor  J.  M.  Johnson,  forge  and 
foundry;  Professor  Robeson,  radio  work;  Professor  McKesson  and  Mr. 
D.  O.  Matthews,  concrete  work.  Aiding  in  this  work,  from  outside  of 
the  college,  were  Messrs.  Nickle,  of  Pennsylvania,  in  radio  work, 
Barker,  of  Richmond,  and  Wilson,  of  Roanoke,  assisting  in  me- 
chanics. Professor  Drinkard  gave  a  series  of  lectures  on  war  issues. 
The  first  detachment  left  on  July  27. 

On  August  1  a  second  detachment  of  225  soldiers  arrived,  all  re- 
cruited from  the  District  of  Columbia.  Forty-three  additional  men 
arrived  a  few  days  later,  and  twenty-eight  men  had  been  held  over 
from  the  first  detachment  for  further  instruction.  These,  with  the 
officers  in  charge,  made  a  total  of  302  soldiers  at  this  time.    During  the 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute  53 

stay  o(  these  two  detachments  everything-  possible  for  their  comfort 
and  happiness  was  done  by  the  town  and  campus  people  and  by  the 
ministers  and  the  local  Red  Cross. 

On  June  3,  seventy-four  V.  P.  I.  men  reported  at  the  training- 
camp  at  Plattsburg,  New  York,  remaining  during  the  full  period  to 
July  3.  When  the  second  camp  opened  on  July  22,  about  twenty  V.  P. 
I.  men  attended  until  its  close  on  September  16. 

A  department  for  training  teachers  of  vocational  agriculture  was 
established  in  June. 

It  is  not  possible  in  a  short  summary  such  as  this  to  go  fully  into 
the  magnificent  war  record  made  by  students  and  alumni.  Mr.  H.  H. 
Hill,  the  secretary  of  the  alumni  association,  has  carefully  prepared 
the  full  record  and  it  will  doubtless  be  issued  later  in  printed  form. 
But  we  cannot  pass  on  without  calling  attention  to  the  fact  that  it  was 
a  Tech  man  who  led  into  action  the  first  Americans  who  took  part  in 
the  actual  fighting  in  France.  Major  J.  W.  C.  Stevens,  of  the  class  of 
1916,  at  that  time  a  captain  in  the  26th  U.  S.  Infantry  of  the  regular 
army,  led  his  company  in  the  first  engagement  of  American  troops, 
near  Soissons.  And  who  can  forget  that  among  V.  P.  I.  immortals 
stands  high  the  name  of  Captain  Lloyd  Williams  ('07),  of  the  U.  S. 
Marine  Corps,  who  was  the  first  Tech  man  to  lay  down  his  life  on  the 
battle  field.  When  his  command,  newly  arrived  at  the  front,  where 
desperate  fighting  was  going  on,  received  from  the  French  command- 
ing officer  the  order  to  retreat,  Captain  Williams's  famous  reply  was, 
"Retreat?  Hell,  No!  we've  just  come!"  Surely,  the  spirit  underlying 
these  words  should  ever  be  a  stimulus  to  every  man  facing  a  difficult 
situation,  and  will  ever  be  remembered  as  embodying  the  true  V.  P.  I. 
principle  of  "Do,  or  die." 

Session  of  1918-19.  During  the  preceding  summer,  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  regular  army  encampment,  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  had  established  a 
most  elaborate  service.  A  red  triangle  banner  was  displayed  in  front 
of  the  building,  and  Dr.  Newman  was  appointed  camp  secretary  of  the 
post.  The  National  War  Work  Countil  sent  athletic  goods,  games, 
writing  materials,  etc.,  and  in  addition  to  superintending  all  these  de- 
tails, Dr.  Newman  arranged  a  weekly  program  of  song  meetings,  mo- 
tion pictures,  Bible  classes,  and  other  features.  A  canteen  was  estab- 
lished and  liberally  patronized.  This  work  was  continued  by  the  Na- 
tional War  Council  when  the  Student  Army  Training  Camp  was  estab- 
lished. This  was  practically  a  continuation  of  the  work  done  for  the 
army  detachment.  As  his  teaching  work  now  interfered  with  the 
superintendence  of  this  Y.  M.  C.  A.  activity,  Dr.  Newman  was  ap- 
pointed supervising  secretary,  with  Mr.  P.  N.  Deering  as  associate, 
assisted  by  Mr.  Miller  and  Mr.  Drewry.  In  November,  Mr.  Deering 
was  elected  general  secretary  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

On  account  of  the  summer  training  detachment,  the  opening  of 
college  was  postponed  to  October  1,  but  all  new  students  were  required 
to  report  on  September  1,  for  special  military  training.  The  S.  A.  T. 
C.  was  formed  on  October  1,  but  the  fatal  epidemic  of  influenza  rend- 
ered it  inadvisable  to  assemble  the  students  in  class-rooms  while   it 


54  Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 

lasted.  The  whole  of  October  was  given  over  to  out-door  military  ex- 
ercises for  those  physically  fit.  The  college  was  saddened  by  a  num- 
ber of  deaths  from  influenza,  which  occurred  among  the  members  of 
the  corps. 

The  following  U.  S.  Army  officers  were  detailed  for  duty  with  the 
S.  A.  T.  C:  Major  J.  C.  Skuse,  of  the  U.  S.  Infantry,  as  commanding 
officer,  assisted  by  twelve  lieutenants  and  two  captains,  including  a 
post  surgeon,  dental  surgeon,  unit  supply  officer  and  quarter-master, 
all  of  the  regular  army. 


Mess  Hall  and  Shops,  1898. 

Preparatory  courses  were  offered  in  accordance  with  the  Govern- 
ment regulations  in  the  army  service  branches  of  the  engineer  corps, 
signal  corps,  chemical  warfare  service,  quarter-master  service,  ord- 
nance service,  medical  corps,  navy,  infantry,  artillery,  machine  gun- 
nery, transport  and  tank  service.  A  naval  unit  of  fifty  students  was 
established. 

First  Armistice  Day,  November  11,  was  duly  celebrated,  and  the 
corps  paraded  through  the  town  and  back  to  Miles  Field,  where  a  re- 
view was  held. 

The  educational  instructor  of  the  Government  pronounced  the  S. 
A.  T.  C.  at  V.  P.  I.  to  be  far  above  the  average  in  the  quality  of  work 
done,  and  the  nature  and  extent  of  courses  offered.  The  signing  of  the 
armistice  was  the  signal  for  the  demobilization  of  the  S.  A.  T.  C., 
which  took  place  between  December  5  and  12. 

After  much  discussion,  the  faculty  decided  to  start  anew  the  regu- 
lar session  on  the  morning  of  December  31,  and  to  continue  it  for  six 
months  with  no  holidays,  to  be  divided  into  three  terms  of  two  months 
each. 


Virginia    Polytechnic   Institute 


^ 


Major  Skuse  was  detailed  as  commandant,  with  Captain  J.  P. 
Gammon  as  assistant.  In  February  the  R.  O.  T.  C.  was  reorganized 
and  most  o\'  the  cadets  became  members. 

Professor  Pritchard  was  appointed  dean  of  the  engineering  de- 
partment; Associate  Professor  Lancaster  was  made  professor  and  head 
of  the  department  of  agricultural  education;  W.  T.  Ellis,  professor  of 
power  engineering  and  machine  design;  A.  B.  Massey,  associate  pro- 
fessor of  plant  pathology  and  bacteriology;  A.  G.  Smith,  instructor  in 
horticulture;  F.  L.  Bruce,  W.  E.  Pritchard  and  J.  Duff,  instructors  in 
English;  F.  S.  Glassett,  instructor  in  agronomy;  J.  I.  Smith,  graphics, 


The  original  "Huckleberry"  Depot  at  Blacksburg. 


and  several  additional  assistants  were  appointed.  Promotions:  Asso- 
ciate Professor  Hunt  to  professor  of  animal  husbandry;  H.  S.  Stahl,  to 
professor  of  biology;  instructor  McKesson  to  associate  professor  of 
civil  engineering.  Instructors  Estill,  Vaughn,  Harmon,  and  Diggs 
resigned. 

Ensign  M.  C.  Harrison  returned  from  the  navy  on  January  1,  and 
also  Mr.  W.  G.  Harris,  who  had  been  absent  for  a  year  on  military  ser- 
vice. Professor  Lee  returned  from  the  ordnance  department  in  Feb- 
ruary. 

The  farmers'  short  course  was  not  given  this  winter  on  account  of 
the  danger  from  the  epidemic  of  influenza,  which  was  again  raging 
throughout  the  State. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  corps,  it  was  decided  to  wear  the  blue  and 
gray  cadet  uniform  next  year  as  a  dress  uniform,  and  the  olive  drab, 
issued  to  all  members  of  the  R.  O.  T.  C.,  for  work  and  drill.  Sergeant 
Bresnahan,  after  a  two-years'  absence,  returned  early  in  April;  and 
Lieutenant  Ketchum,  of  the  U.  S.  engineer  corps,  was  assigned. 


56  Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 

The  Commencement  of  1919  was  held  in  July.  Instead  of  the  fa- 
miliar blue  and  gray,  the  corps  was  clad  in  khaki  for  the  drills.  Many 
military  heroes  were  present  among  visiting  alumni.  An  incident  of 
great  interest,  not  merely  because  it  was  unique,  was  the  presence  of 
a  president,  an  ex-president,  and  a  next  president  of  V.  P.  I.  During 
the  latter  part  of  the  session,  President  Eggleston  had  announced  his 
intention  to  resign,  to  take  effect  on  July  1,  as  he  had  accepted  the 
presidency  of  Hampden-Sidney  College.  The  board  had,  therefore,  on 
June  12,  at  its  Richmond  meeting,  elected  Julian  A.  Burruss,  of  the 
class  of  1898,  to  succeed  President  Eggleston.  The  final  exercises  were 
honored  by  the  presence  of  Dr.  McBryde,  President  Eggleston,  and 
President  Burruss,  a  fact  which  excited  much  pleasant  comment. 

Attendance  of  regular  students  this  session,  not  including  the 
special  army  detachments  in  short  courses,  477. 

On  July  1,  as  part  of  the  exercises,  the  monument  erected  by  the 
class  of  1919  and  dedicated  to  "Our  Dead  Heroes  in  France,"  was  un- 
veiled by  Mrs.  A.  B.  Moore.  The  Hon.  George  Bryan,  of  Richmond, 
made  the  address  on  the  occasion.  This  monument  contains  the  names 
of  the  dead,  and  no  V.  P.  I.  man  passes  thereby  without  saluting. 

Governor  Davis  was  present  at  the  finals,  and  made  an  address  to 
the  graduating  class.  During  the  exercises,  President  Eggleston  was 
presented  with  a  gold  watch  by  Cadet  C.  E.  Whitmore  on  behalf  of  the 
corps;  and  Dean  Campbell  presented  the  retiring  president  a  silver 
service  on  behalf  of  the  faculty  and  others  of  the  college. 

Director  Jesse  M.  Jones  having  resigned,  Mr.  John  R.  Hutcheson, 
assistant  director  of  the  extension  division  for  two  years,  was  elected 
director,  at  the  June  meeting  of  the  board. 

On  July  1,  President  Eggleston  relinquished  the  presidency  after 
having  served  for  six  years. 


When  President  Eggleston  took  charge  of  the  affairs  of  the  col- 
lege conditions  were  somewhat  disturbed.  Misunderstandings  and  out- 
side interference  had  developed  a  state  of  unrest  and  suspicion  not 
conducive  to  the  best  working  together  of  all  of  the  forces  of  the  col- 
lege. With  infinite  tact  and  grace  of  manner,  a  sympathetic  attitude 
toward  all,  and  a  delicacy  in  holding  the  reins  of  government,  Mr.  Eg- 
gleston soon  caused  unrest  to  disappear  among  faculty  and  alumni; 
and  perhaps  the  greatest  praise  that  can  be  given  his  administration 
is  to  say  that  when  he  resigned,  to  the  great  regret  of  his  faculty  and 
against  their  earnest  protest,  he  had  developed  a  condition  of  harmony 
and  confidence  that  spoke  better  than  words  of  his  character  as  a  leader 
and  a  gentleman. 

Among  material  improvements  during  this  administration  may  be 
mentioned  the  new  shops  building  known  as  the  "McBryde  Building  of 
Mechanic  Arts;"  the  new  field  house;  ten  new  residences  for  college 
employees;  the  acquisition  of  the  Black  property;  the  lease,  with  priv- 
ilege of  buying,  of  the  Houston  farm  of  176  acres;  additional  concrete 


Virginia   Polytechnic    Institute 


57 


walks  along  the  most-used  thoroughfares;  the  moving  of  the  library 
from  its  cramped  quarters  in  the  Second  Academic  Building  to  the 
stone  chapel;  and  a  number  of  other  material  improvements. 

Additional  and  increased  appropriations  from  the  State  were  se- 
cured largely  through  his  influence,  and  the  meagre  salaries  of  the 
faculty  were  increased — the  first  increase  in  twenty  years.  The  office 
of  dean  of  the  faculty  was  restored ;  the  two-year  course  in  agriculture 
was  systematized;  and  the  department  of  agricultural  education  was 
created  and  provision  made  for  the  erection  of  a  building  therefor. 

The  war  training  camps  at  the  V.  P.  I.,  and  the  consequent  devel- 
opment of  military  training,  also  the  record  made  by  V.  P.  I.  men,  cul- 
minated in  the  publishing  by  the  War  Department  in  June,  1919,  of 
the  name  of  the  Virginia  Polytechnic  Institute  as  one  of  the  twelve 
"Distinguished  Colleges"  in  the  United  States. 


Breaking  the   ground  for  the  Alumni  Gateway. 


58  Virginia   Polytechnic    Institute 


V.  P.  I.  MEN  IN  THE  WORLD  WAR 

Not  less  than  forty-two  per  cent  of  the  entire  alumni  membership 
of  V.  P.  I.  was  enrolled  in  the  Nation's  service,  and  the  following  sta- 
tistics will  indicate  how  they  served: 

Percentage  of  engineers  entering  engineers'  camps,  and  of  men  entering 
Leavenworth  regular  army  school,  and  Camps  Oglethorpe,  Benjamin  Harri- 
son, Grant,  Gordon,  Sevier,  Taylor,  and  Plattsburg,  who  received  commis- 
sions           100 

Percentage  of  successful  candidates  for  all  camps 98 

Brigadier    General    2        Naval  Aviation  Officers 13 

Colonel     1         Officers  in  Navy 39 

Lieutenant    Colonel    7         Student  Aviators   36 

Major 33        Military    Instructors    13 

Captain    125        Non-Com.    Officers   68 

First  Lieutenant 168        Privates 409 

Second   Lieutenant 246         Men  in  Navy 42 

In   Training  Detachments   534 

In  S.  A.  T.  C.  and  special  war  courses 444 

Left,  in  training  camps  at  time  of  armistice   117 

Killed   in   France    10 

Wounded    in    battle    28 

Died  in  camps 18 

Captured  in  battle   (one  escaped)    5 

Decorated   for   bravery    8 

Cited  for  bravery 9 

Enemy  air  planes  brought  down 6 

The  only  Congressional  Medal  of  Honor  awarded  to  a  Virginian 
was  awarded  to  a  V.  P.  I.  student.  In  addition  to  this  highest  honor, 
V.  P.  I.  men  received  six  or  more  Distinguished  Service  Crosses,  seven 
or  more  Croix  de  Guerre,  two  or  more  Legion  of  Honor,  and  numerous 
other  foreign  decorations. 


P.  B.  Barringer, 
President,  1907-1913. 


J.  D.  Eggleston, 
President,  1913-1919. 


Julian  A.  Burruss, 
President,  1919-1922. 


60  Virginia   Polytechnic    Institute 


THE   PRESENT 

This  brings  the  history  to  President  Burruss'  administration, 
which  has  opened  with  so  much  promise  of  greater  things.  It  is 
worthy  of  note  that  the  session  of  1921-22  sees  a  board  with  four 
alumni  among  its  members,  an  alumnus  as  president,  and  a  faculty, 
about  one-half  of  whose  members  are  alumni  who  have  proved  them- 
selves in  other  fields  and  have  been  called  back  to  serve  their  alma 
mater.  With  board,  president,  and  faculty  animated  by  a  spirit  to  ad- 
vance V.  P.  I.  in  every  field  of  legitimate  endeavor,  we  can  look  hope- 
fully to  the  future  increasing  value  and  usefulness  of  the  college  to 
the  people  of  Virginia  and  to  the  Nation. 


SUPPLEMENT 


The  historical  summary  prepared  by  Professor  Smyth  reaches 
only  to  the  beginning  of  the  present  administration.  Believing  that 
the  alumni  and  other  friends  of  the  institution  wish  to  know  something 
of  the  accomplishments  of  the  three  years  now  closing,  it  is  considered 
not  inappropriate  to  add  the  statements  which  follow. 

The  entire  organization  of  the  institution  has  been  revised  as 
shown  in  the  accompanying  chart. 

Closer  co-operation  among  the  various  divisions  of  the  institution, 
particularly  the  main  divisions  of  resident  instruction,  extension, 
and  research  in  agriculture  has  been  secured;  and  closer  and 
more  sympathetic  relationship  with  other  agricultural  agencies  in 
Virginia  has  been  established.  A  mutually  helpful  affiliation  has  been 
arranged  between  the  Virginia  Truck  Experiment  Station  and  the 
college,  particularly  for  research  and  extension  work;  and  an  arrange- 
ment with  the  Blacksburg  high  school  for  teacher-training  purposes 
has  been  operated  successfully  for  two  years. 

The  agricultural  experiment  station  has  added  to  its  equipment 
and  resources  and  has  begun  a  period  of  expansion. 

The  extension  division  has  added  to  its  staff  and  to  its  projects, 
and  it  has  been  brought  into  close  correlation  with  the  experiment 
station  and  the  division  of  resident  instruction. 

The  summer  school  has  been  reorganized  and  enlarged,  and  it  is 
being  put  upon  a  sound  basis,  so  that  next  year  it  will  be  in  every 
sense  an  integral  part  of  the  college  session.  Summer  activities  in 
connection  with  the  boys  and  girls  clubs,  the  farmers  institute,  etc., 
under  the  direction  of  the  extension  division,  have  been  greatly  ex- 
panded. 

Net  additions  to  the  regular  resident  faculty  of  the  college  number 
twenty-seven  members,  plus  nineteen  additional  instructors  and  as- 
sistants. 


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62  Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 

All  of  the  curricula  of  the  college  have  been  completely  reorgan- 
ized and  modernized.  The  general  curriculum  in  agriculture  has  been 
superseded  by  six  co-ordinate  curricula,  in  agricultural  education,  ag- 
ricultural engineering,  agronomy,  animal  husbandry,  dairy  husbandry, 
and  horticulture.  Curricula  in  industrial  education  and  commercial 
engineering  have  been  established,  co-ordinate  with  the  other  four-year 
engineering  curricula.  The  civil  engineering  curriculum  now  permits 
specialization  in  highway  engineering;  and  the  mining  engineering 
curriculum  permits  specialization  in  coal  mining  engineering.  The 
curriculum  in  general  science  has  been  eliminated,  but  four-year  pro- 
grams are  maintained  in  biology,  chemistry,  geology,  and  metallurgy; 
and  a  definitely  outlined  pre-medical  curriculum  has  been  provided. 
A  two-year  curriculum  in  practical  mechanics  and  a  short  unit  course 
in  printing  have  been  added.  Foreign  languages  are  elective  but  no 
longer  required. 

New  departments  have  been  developed  in  agricultural  engineer- 
ing, education,  industrial  education,  physical  education  (including 
hygiene,  and  physical  training),  poultry  husbandry,  social  science  (in- 
cluding agricultural  economics,  industrial  economics,  citizenship, 
human  relations,  and  a  number  of  courses  in  business  administration, 
business  law,  finance,  accounting,  etc.)  In  the  department  of  English, 
courses  in  agricultural  journalism,  technical  English,  and  public 
speaking,  have  been  inaugurated. 

A  credit-hour  system,  such  as  is  in  operation  at  the  best  colleges 
of  the  country,  has  been  in  use  for  the  past  two  years,  in  the  effort 
to  apportion  equitably  a  student's  time  among  the  various  departments 
in  which  he  is  working. 

The  marking  system  of  the  college  has  been  completely  changed, 
for  the  first  time  in  thirty  years;  and  a  modern  system  of  quality- 
credits  and  symbols  has  been  adopted.  Minimum  standards  of 
scholarship  have  been  set,  below  which  if  a  student  falls  he  is  required 
to  leave  the  institution.  Students  whose  conduct  or  classwork  is  below 
the  standard  have  been  consistently  dropped  from  the  rolls  during  the 
current  year. 

The  regulations  for  the  government  of  the  students  have  been 
completely  revised. 

The  annual  catalog  has  been  completely  re-written;  and  the  bul- 
letin has  been  changed  from  a  quarterly  to  a  bi-monthly,  with  a  defi- 
nite objective  for  each  number  during  the  year. 

A  department  of  industrial  education  for  teacher-training 
in  trades  and  industries,  under  the  Smith-Hughes  law,  has  been 
established;  and  this  department  in  addition  to  its  resident  instruction 
offers  extension  courses  for  teachers  in  service. 

A  department  of  health,  with  a  full-time  health  officer,  has  been 
provided. 

The  laboratories  of  the  State  Highway  Commission  for  the  test- 
ing of  road  materials,  have  been  established  at  this  college  as  a  part  of 
the  department  of  civil  engineering. 

An  engineering  experiment  station  has  been  started,  on  a  modest 
basis,  and  this  has  already  done  some  good  work. 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute  68 

The  number  of  United  States  army  officers  regularly  assigned  to 
the  college  has  been  increased  from  two  to  seven,  and  in  addition 
seven  sergeants  and  two  mechanics  have  been  detailed  here  from  the 
regular  army.  R.  0.  T.  C.  units  in  coast  artillery,  engineering,  and 
Infantry  are  regularly  maintained,  on  a  large  scale. 

The  old  brick  shops  building  has  been  converted  into  a  military 
laboratory  with  shooting-gallery  and  rooms  for  various  military  pur- 
poses. The  outdoor  rifle  range  has  been  improved  and  a  pistol  range 
established.  Approximately  three  hundred  thousand  dollars  worth 
of  military  equipment  has  been  added  by  the  War  Department,  chiefly 
for  the  coast  artillery  and  engineering  units.  Many  new  instruments 
have  been  supplied  for  the  use  of  the  band. 

For  three  successive  years  the  institution  has  been  given  the  high- 
est military  rank  by  the  War  Department,  as  a  "distinguished  col- 
lege"; yet  this  college  claims  to  be  merely  a  technical  institution  with 
a  military  department. 

The  athletic  interests  have  been  brought  into  closer  connection 
with  the  college  organization,  the  athletic  director  being  made  a  mem- 
ber of  the  faculty  and  the  athletic  coaches  having  regular  rank  on  the 
instructional  staff.  Mass  athletics  and  minor  sports  are  being  greatly 
developed,  and  physical  education  and  hygiene  are  now  required  of  all 
freshmen  and  are  elective  for  others. 

The  college  has  joined  the  southern  intercollegiate  athletic  con- 
ference, composed  of  fifteen  of  the  leading  institutions  in  this  section, 
and  this  has  established  very  important  regulations  for  raising  and 
maintaining  athletic  standards. 

A  subsidiary  athletic  field  has  been  graded  by  the  Athletic  Asso- 
ciation. The  college  has  constructed  a  number  of  additional  tennis 
courts  and  has  added  to  the  gymnasium  a  considerable  amount  of 
equipment  for  indoor  sports. 

The  enrolment  of  regular  session  students  has  been  more  than 
doubled  since  1919,  being  now  980,  which  is  more  than  thirty-four 
per  cent  greater  than  the  enrolment  of  any  previous  year  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  college. 

The  entrance  requirements  have  been  raised  from  fourteen  units, 
with  conditional  entrance  allowed  on  twelve  units,  to  fifteen  units  with 
no  quantitative  conditions  whatever,  and  admission  has  been  restricted 
to  graduates  of  accredited  four-year  high  schools  and  other  institutions 
recognized  as  standard  by  the  State  Department  of  Public  Instruction 
and  the  state  university,  thus  bringing  the  requirements  for  admission 
to  the  highest  standard. 

Women  have  been  admitted  to  all  curricula  of  the  college  on  the 
same  basis  as  men. 

The  time  devoted  to  term  examinations  has  been  cut  to  about 
one-half,  thus  affording  more  time  for  actual  instruction;  and  classes 
are  started  on  the  second  day  of  the  session  instead  of  using  four  or 
five  days  for  registration  as  formerly. 

Orientation  and  introductory  courses  for  freshmen  have  been  in- 
augurated. Faculty  advisers  have  been  appointed  for  students.  The 
student  assembly  has  been  revived. 


64  Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 

Eight  teaching  fellowships  for  graduates  of  this  and  other  insti- 
tutions have  been  established. 

Three  undergraduate  scholarships  have  been  established,  for  the 
students  who  lead  in  scholarship  in  the  freshman,  sophomore,  and 
junior  classes  respectively. 

A  chapter  of  the  honor  society  of  Phi  Kappa  Phi  has  been  in- 
augurated, to  which  members  of  the  faculty  in  limited  number  and  a 
likewise  limited  number  of  senior  students  are  eligible  strictly  on  a 
basis  of  scholarship. 

The  literary  societies  have  been  revived  after  being  dead  for 
several  years;  and  despite  the  fact  that  because  of  over-crowded  con- 
ditions it  has  been  necessary  to  use  their  halls  for  classroom  purposes, 
they  have  grown  in  numbers  and  in  interest,  and  the  first  public  pro- 
gram in  many  years  was  held  this  year. 

The  state  appropriations  to  the  college  proper  have  been  increased 
106  per  cent,  to  the  experiment  station  73  per  cent,  to  the  extension 
division  118  per  cent,  and  to  certain  affiliated  interests  48  per  cent, 
with  an  increase  in  the  total  for  all  divisions  of  100  per  cent  over 
1918-19. 

Federal  funds  for  teacher-training  in  vocational  agriculture  and 
for  extension  work  in  agriculture  and  home  economics  have  been  in- 
creased. 

The  loan  funds  and  scholarships  have  been  enlarged. 

The  service  and  commercial  departments  have  been  put  on  a  busi- 
ness basis.  The  accounting  has  been  centralized  in  one  business  office. 
The  entire  institution  has  been  placed  on  a  budget  system,  with  a 
definite  allocation  of  funds  and  with  control  of  expenditures  through 
the  central  business  office.  A  requisition  system  for  purchases  and 
also  for  job-work  has  been  put  into  operation.  The  office  of  business 
manager  has  been  created. 

The  floating  debt  has  been  reduced  to  a  comparatively  small 
amount,  being  now  only  about  one-half  of  its  amount  three  years  ago. 
During  the  three  years  now  closing  neither  the  bonded  debt  nor  the 
floating  debt  has  been  increased.  The  sinking-fund  for  the  bonded 
debt  is  being  built  up.  A  reserve  fund  is  being  accumulated  to  meet 
claims  under  the  workmen's  compensation  law. 

A  new  and  more  equitable  salary  scale,  providing  definite  ranges 
of  salaries  for  the  various  grades  of  positions,  has  been  adopted  for 
the  instructional  staff;  and  a  definite  and  fair  plan  of  house  assign- 
ment for  professors  has  been  established. 

The  salaries  of  members  of  the  faculty  have  been  increased  by  an 
average  of  about  thirty  per  cent  in  three  years ;  and  the  salaries  of  all 
other  employees  have  been  proportionately  increased.  . 

A  splendid  farm  of  176  acres  has  been  purchased  and  paid  for  in 
full.  Another  tract  of  about  ten  acres  has  been  acquired,  and  also  a 
lot  of  about  two  acres,  both  being  paid  for  at  the  tiime  of  purchase. 

A  small  building  has  been  erected  for  the  department  of  agricul- 
tural education,  of  which  a  portion  is  now  used  for  the  department 
of  industrial  education  and  also  for  an  office  for  the  alumni  associa- 
tion. 


Virginia    Polytechnic    [nstitute  65 

Oho  professor's  house  lias  been  added  by  purchase  and  another  by 
erection.  A  brick,  two-story  apartment  house,  for  four  families,  has 
been  erected  by  the  extension  division.  Two  cottages  have  been  erect- 
ed for  farm  labor.      All  o(  these  have  been  paid  for  in  full. 

A  large  wooden  structure  has  been  erected  to  house  the  farm 
machinery    secured    by    the   department   of   agricultural    engineering. 

A    poultry   plant    of   considerable   proportions   is  being  developed. 

A  printing  department,  which  publishes  the  bulletins,  catalogs, 
etc.,  of  the  college,  and  trains  linotype  machine  operators,  has  been 
established  and  is  being  operated  with  a  large  output  of  work. 

A  large  storage  yard,  with  sheds,  stables,  and  other  structures, 
has  been  provided  near  the  campus,  permitting  the  removal  of  a 
number  of  unsightly  structures  from  the  campus. 

Many  new  walks  have  been  made  on  the  campus,  some  of  the 
drives  have  been  laid  out  anew,  sodding  and  planting  have  been  done 
in  various  places. 

The  farm  plant  is  now  in  process  of  renovation,  several 
buildings  have  been  considerably  enlarged,  new  structures  have  been 
erected,  old  and  dilapidated  fences  are  being  replaced  by  modern  fen- 
cing, considerable  grading  and  clearing  up  of  the  grounds  has  been 
accomplished,  and  all  of  the  barns  and  sheds  have  been  painted,  so  that 
when  these  improvements  are  completed  the  entire  farm  plant  will 
have  been  overhauled  and  put  in  good  condition. 

The  attic  of  the  agricultural  hall  has  been  developed  for  agronomy 
laboratories,  and  the  space  allotted  to  dairy  husbandry  has  been  in- 
creased by  providing  new  quarters  for  stock-judging.  Improvements 
have  been  made  in  the  science  hall,  strengthening  the  building  and 
better  adapting  it  to  the  heavy  use  which  is  made  of  it.  Steps  have 
been  built  at  the  front  of  the  mechanic  arts  building,  and  the  two  tower 
rooms  have  been  developed  for  use  as  highway  engineering  testing 
laboratories,  Certain  offices  in  the  administration  building  have  been 
greatly  improved,  and  various  other  improvements  of  a  more  or  less 
important  character  have  been  made. 

The  interior  of  Academic  Building  No.  2  has  been  completely 
remodeled  so  as  to  economize  space  and  to  make  available  an  addi- 
tional story,  but  this  work  has  not  been  entirely  finished. 

Improvements,  at  considerable  expense,  have  been  made  to  the 
water-supply  system  and  to  the  sewage  disposal  plant. 

Improvements  have  been  made  to  the  laundry  building  and  a  con- 
siderable amount  has  been  expended  for  new  laundry  machinery. 

A  new  engine  and  dynamo  room  has  been  built  at  the  power  plant, 
and  the  old  engines,  dynamos,  and  accessories  have  been  completely 
replaced  with  modern  equipment,  giving  increased  and  better  dis- 
tributed capacity.  The  old  engine  room  is  being  converted  into  an 
experimental  engineering  laboratory.  The  lights  on  the  streets  of  the 
town  and  on  the  campus,  for  the  most  part,  have  been  put  on  a  series 
system  with  control  at  the  power-plant.  The  distribution  system 
has  been  re-arranged  in  a  number  of  independent  circuits,  each  with 
central  control.  A  large  number  of  additional  lights  have  been  placed 
on  the  grounds. 


66  Virginia   Polytechnic   Institute 

Practically  every  building  on  the  campus  has  been  painted  on  the 
outside,  and  some  also  on  the  inside.  The  interior  of  the  assembly 
hall  has  been  completely  renovated,  with  important  changes  to  the 
stage. 

The  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building  has  been  greatly  improved  inside, 
through  the  efforts  of  the  ladies'  auxiliary  and  other  friends. 

The  laboratory  equipment  of  all  departments  has  been  largely  in- 
creased, in  some  cases  more  than  doubled.  A  large  amount  of  valu- 
able engineering  equipment  has  been  added,  particularly  for  experi- 
mental engineering,  electrical  engineering,  and  mechanic  arts.  Many 
additions  have  been  made  to  the  libraries.  Much  general  classroom 
and  office  furniture  has  been  added.  Equipment  for  fire  protection 
has  been  increased. 

Contract  has  been  made  for  the  building  of  a  bituminous  macadam 
road,  sixteen  feet  in  width,  from  the  alumni  gateway  to  the  Y.  M.  C. 
A.  building,  and  of  a  similar  road,  twelve  feet  in  width,  from  the  street 
to  the  power-plant,  so  that  these  roads  will  be  no  longer  impassable 
in  winter. 

Plans  have  been  made  for  remodeling  the  kitchen  wing  of  the 
dining-hall,  and  for  remodeling  the  hospital;  and  the  work  will  be 
completed  during  the  coming  summer. 

Funds  have  been  made  available  for  remodeling  the  heating 
system  of  the  library  building,  and  this  will  be  made  comfortable  be- 
fore next  winter. 

Funds  have  been  provided  and  plans  are  now  being  made  for  the 
establishment  of  beef-cattle  herds  in  the  department  of  animal 
husbandry. 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 


07 


SERVICE    ORGANIZATION 


l.  Etaddenl  Instruction. 

Trains  young  men  and 
youn.tr  women  for  gainful 
oceopations  needed  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  for  useful  public 
service  and  intelligent  citi- 
zenship. 


2.   Experimentation    and    Re- 
search. 

Answers  by  carefully  plan- 
ned experiments  the  funda- 
mental problems  in  farm 
management  and  practise, 
under    local    conditions. 


3.  Extension    Service. 

Carries  the  College  and 
Experiment  Station  to  the 
farm  and  home,  furnishes 
practical  information  of  im- 
mediate    application. 


Four-Year  Courses  in 

Agriculture — Agricultural     Engineering,     Agronomy 
(Farm        Management),        Animal        Husbandry, 
Dairy       Husbandry,       Horticulture,       Agricultural 
Education. 
Engineering — Chemical,     Civil,     Commercial,      Elec- 
trical,    Mechanical,     Mining,      Industrial      Educa- 
tion. 
Applied       Science — Biology,       Chemistry,       Geology, 
Metallurgy. 
Graduate  Courses  in 

All  of  the  above  lines. 
Two-Year  Courses  in 

Practical    Agriculture,    Home    Demonstration,    Pre- 
Medical    Education. 
Sfiort   Unit   Courses  in 

Agriculture,    Printing     (Linotype). 
|    Summer  Courses  in 

|  Vocational  Agriculture,  Trades  and  Industries, 
Certain  College  Subjects,  and  Certain  Entrance 
Unit  Subjects. 

f    Agricultural  Experiment  Station 

Investigation    as    to    crops,    soils,    fertilizers,    feeds, 
feeding,    plant    and   animal   breeding,    orcharding, 
dairying,    diseases    of    plants    and   animals,    insect 
pests,  etc.     Bulletins  mailed  free  to  farmers. 
Eight   County  Experiment   Stations 

Local   farm   problems   studied. 
Leased   and   Co-operating    Orchards 

Local  experiments  in  orcharding  in  the  fruit-grow- 
ing sections. 
Crop  Pest  Commission 

Control  of   insect  pests   and   plant  diseases.     Bulle- 
tins mailed  free. 
Virginia   Truck   Experiment   Station 

Not  under  college  control,  but  closely  affiliated  for 
helpful  co-operation.  Truck  experiments  and 
local  problems  of  Eastern  Virginia  studied. 
Bulletins   mailed   free. 

C  Extension  Division 

County  Agent  work  in  Agriculture  and  Home 
Economics.  Boys'  and  Girls'  Clubs.  Farmers' 
organizations.  P'armers'  Institutes  and  other 
meetings,  lectures,  and  demonstrations.  Plans 
for  farm  engineering,  etc.  Exhibits  at  fairs. 
Bulletins  mailed  free.  Advice  to  farmers,  farm- 
ers' wives,  boys  and  girls,  by  correspondence 
and  visits  by  specialists,  on  technical  phases  of 
farming   and   household   work.      All   service   free. 


68 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 


w 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute  69 


ENROLLMENT    BY    YEARS 

(Regular  session  only — short  course  omitted.) 

1872-73 132   1897-98 333 

1873-74 197    1898-99 303 

L874-75 222    1899-00 343 

L876-76 255   1900-01 386 

1876-77 224    1901-02 472 

1877-78 186   1902-03 627 

1878-79 160    1903-04 727 

1879-80 50    1904-05 728 

L880-81 78   1905-06 619 

L881-82 148   1906-07 577 

1882-83 163    1907-08 546 

1883-84 190    1908-09 565 

1884-85 132    1909-10 509 

1885-86 (?)    1910-11 471 

1886-87 110    1911-12 463 

1887-88 132    1912-13 471 

1888-89 127    1913-14 527 

1889-90 139    1914-15 490 

1890-91 150    1915-16 505 

1891-92 135    1916-17 533 

1892-93 177    1917-18 519 

1893-94 236    1918-19 477 

1894-95 . 325    1919-20 757 

1895-96 335    1920-21 793 

1896-97 336    1921-22 975 

Prior  to  1912-13  the  entrance  requirements  were  not  clearly  de- 
fined in  terms  of  units.  In  1912-13  they  were  made  10  units,  in  1914- 
15  they  were  raised  to  14  units,  and  in  1920-21  they  were  raised  to  15 

units,  with  two  conditioned  units  allowed.     For  1922-23  the  full   15 
units  will  be  required,  no  conditions  in  quantity  being  allowed. 


70 


Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 


SUMMARY  OF  GRADUATES   BY   CLASSES  AND   COURSES 


COURSE 

in 
xn 

5 

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OC  o 

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o 

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CD 

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ll 

m 
13 

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a> 

CO 

03 

s 

a 

Q 

1875  _   _ 

6 

22 
9 
9 
7 
6 
3 
8 
5 
6 

5 
3 

2 

2 

3 
4 
8 
2 
5 
3 
4 
3 

3 

12 

26 

17 

11 

12 

9 

7 

11 

10 

8 

4 

6 

3 

9 

7 

5 

4 

5 

6 

9 

18 

19 

20 

17 

26 

25 

35 

43 

34 

59 

77 

65 

70 

42 

45 

48 

69 

44 

47 

52 

60 

77 

67 

29 

36 

79 

75 

4 

1876 

10 

1877    __ 

S 

1878 

1879 

*, 

1880  _     . 

S 

1881     . 

1 

1882    _ 

ft 

1883  _ 

5 

9 

1884 

2 
1 

1885  _ 

1886 

1 

1 

1887 

1 

1888 

3 
3 

1 
1 

3 

2 

3 

2 

2 

2 

1 

6 

7 

3 

5 

8 

5 

9 

17 

8 

13 

16 

11 

11 

8 

6 

5 

14 

8 

9 

11 

10 

14 

9 

3 

7 

14 

16 

9, 

1889  __ 

1890 

1891 

1 

9 

1892 

2 

1893 

1 

1894  _ 

~"l 

l 

l 

"l 

l 
3 
4 
2 
4 
2 
1 
2 
1 
3 
1 
2 
1 
3 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 

4 
5 

2 

2 
4 

5 
4 
5 
3 
9 
8 
4 
3 
4 
8 
5 
9 
3 
5 
4 
4 
3 
2 
4 

o 

2 

4 

3 

1 

6 

7 

3 

5 

6 

11 

7 

11 

19 

23 

17 

21 

7 

13 

19 

16 

16 

9 

21 

14 

23 

23 

10 

10 

17 

14 

4 
2 
2 
1 
2 
3 

____ 

1 

1 

1895 

4 
2 
4 
3 
2 
4 
2 
6 
2 
3 
3 
2 

1 

"~2 

1 

5 

4 

6 

6 

4 

9 

15 

20 

25 

17 

11 

11 

16 

6 

6 

5 

9 

7 

5 

5 

1 

9 

16 

6 

1896 

1 

1897 

?, 

1898 

1 

1899 

2 
1 

2 
2 
9 
6 

7 

4 

2 

4 

7 

8 

14 

8 

18 

25 

23 

6 

8 

21 

11 

5 

1900  _ 

3 

1901 

1902 

1 

1903 

1 

6 

1904 

10 

1905 

1 
1 
1 

4 

1906 

?, 

1907 

4 

1908 

1 
1 

2 

1909 

2 

1910 

2 

?, 

1911 

3 

1912 

1913 

4 

1914 

— 

1 

1915 

5 

1916 

l 

2 



~~1 

3 

1917 

1 

1 

1918 

1919 

1 

4 

8 

11 

1920 

_   6 

1 

1921 

2 

___ 

1 

Totals__ 

8 

294 

39 

125 

3 

2 

1    3 

26 

35 

48 

226 

277 

352 

17 

1459 

109 

Virginia    Polytechnic    Institute 


71 


GRADUATE    DEGREES    AWARDED 


DEGREE 

YEAR 

1        1 
M.  S.   |  Ch.  E.    C.  E. 

E.  E. 

1        1 
E.  M.  1  M.  E.  |  Totals 

1893-              -  . 

1 

1 
1 
5 
2 

1        1        1        1 

1 

1  B9  l   . 

1 

1 

2 
1 
2 
2 
1 
4 
2 
7 
8 
7 
10 
4 
8 
6 
4 
3 
4 
6 
5 
2 
2 
1 
1 
2 
2 
1 

3 

ls'.i:. 

3 

1896- 

6 

1897— 

1 
1 

5 

1898-  .  . 

3 

1899-  . 

2 
2 
2 

3 

1900— 

4 
2 

2 
3 
6 
3 
5 
12 
7 
4 

10 

1901               _  . 

6 

1902. 

9 

1903 

6 

4 

16 

1904-  . 

14 

1905 

16 

1906 

1 

8 

1907 

13 

1908— 

3 
3 
3 
2 

21 

1909 

14 

1910 

r. 

3 
1 

4 
4 
2 
4 
5 

1 
----- 

15 

1911- 

9 

1912— 

7 

15 

1913  _ 

4 
1 
9 

7 
1 
1 
5 
3 
4 

13 

1914  _ 

7 

1915. 

13 

1916 

3 
3 

15 

1917 

12 

1918. 

3 

1919 

1 

1 

8 

1920—-  ._ 

2 

7 

1921 

8 

Totals 

73 

2 

70 

30 

3 

98 

276 

THE  COLLEGE  AND  THE  STATE 


*m*  HE  CHIEF  CONCERN  of  a  state  should  be 
It \  the  development  of  intelligence  and  integ- 
^■■^  rity  among  its  citizens.  This  is  the  sole 
foundation  for  permanent  progress  and  prosperity. 
Material  resources  are  an  immense  advantage,  but 
brain  power  is  necessary  to  bring  them  to  fruition, 
and  virtue  is  essential  to  the  perpetuation  of  the 
commonwealth.  The  chief  business  of  the  college  is 
to  train  minds  and  develop  characters  for  service  to 
the  state.  The  objectives  of  any  state-supported 
institution  must  be  what  the  state  needs  to  have 
done  by  that  particular  institution.  All  claims  for 
support  from  the  state  must  be  based  on  clearly  de- 
fined needs  to  reach  these  objectives.  Only  in  the 
degree  to  which  a  state  college  uses  its  facilities  to 
meet  the  demands  which  the  state  rightfully  makes 
of  it,  can  it  expect  support  from  the  state.  Only  in 
the  degree  to  which  the  state  supports  its  state 
college  can  the  state  reasonably  expect  that  college 
to  meet  the  demands  of  the  state. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


30112  111511660 


